Rajasthan: Dalit leaders’ houses set on fire

Jaipur: In retaliatory action against Monday’s protests and violence against the Supreme Court’s March 20 ruling that allegedly diluted the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, a mob of Upper Castes in Rajasthan targeted houses of dalit leaders and establishments belonging to members of the community.

A mob of nearly 5,000 people set ablaze houses of sitting MLA Rajkumari Jatav and former MLA Bharosilal Jatav, both dalits, on Tuesday afternoon in the Hindaun town in Karauli district of Rajasthan following which curfew was imposed in the area, a senior official said.

A hostel of dalit students was also attacked and a commercial building set ablaze.

While Rajkumari Jatav is from the ruling BJP, Bharosi Lal Jatav is a former Congress legislator who also served as a minister in the state.

“The traders’ association and Upper Castes are agitated in Hindaun city. They took out a procession today and tried to enter the SC/ST dominated areas,” additional director general of police (law and order) N.R.K. Reddy said.

Superintendent of police, Karauli, Anil Kayal said after the incidents of arson and violence, nearly 40 people were detained in Hindaun city.

Tuesday’s incidents occurred a day after Rajasthan and at least eight other states witnessed large-scale protests and violence during a “Bharat Bandh” called by dalit organisations. A man named Pawan was killed in police firing in Alwar’s Khairthal, Rajashtan, on Monday.

On Tuesday morning, a large crowd had gathered at Chaupar circle to protest against Monday’s violence and demand action against the culprits.

The protesters clashed with the police, which tried to disperse them. However, the mob turned violent, forcing the police to fire teargas shells and rubber bullets. Some teargas shells landed in a government school nearby. About two-dozen students reportedly had to be treated for injuries sustained from teargas shells and the resultant stampede.

“People from non-reserved categories and market associations gathered in the morning defying prohibitory orders that were imposed to protest against yesterday’s rioting. They tried to form a procession, but when the police tried to disperse them, they pelted stones. The police had to use force to control the situation,” said Alok Vashishtha, IG, Bharatpur range.

According to him, after incidents and arson, a mob of about 5,000 thousand from surrounding areas gathered and reached BJP MLA Rajkumari Jatav and former Congress minister Bharosi Lal Jatav’s houses. Stones were pelted and some vehicles parked there were torched. A commercial building was also put on fire. However, there was no casualty as both the leaders and their families were not in the town.

“The district administration has imposed curfew in the town and additional police force has been deployed. We carried out a flag march and the situation is now under control,” said Mr Vashishtha who rushed to the spot after learning about the incident.

Meanwhile, in Barmer, police carried out a flag march along with BSF a day after violence during dalit protests. The district administration appealed to the people to maintain peace and calm.