Balmiki community demands justice

Bathinda, December 22

The Balmiki Samaj took out a protest march here today against the Abohar incident in which Dalit Bheem was murdered to death.

The protesters were demanding justice for the family of Bheem by arresting the accused.

The protest march passed through various markets, including Railway Road, Sadhbhavna Chowk and Dhobi Bazaar. In the end, they staged a dharna at the Fire Bridge Chowk. They raised slogans against the state government. Balmiki community leaders said the incident, which took place at Abohar in Fazilka district, had shaken the dalits across the country.

They demanded that the inquiry into the case should be handed over to the CBI and the victim family should be given compensation of Rs 1 crore, along with a government job to one of his family members. They also demanded that the accused be hanged to death. They said the main accused, liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda, should be arrested and sent to jail at the earliest. They also warned to intensify the protest if justice to the victim’s family was not given at the earliest. — TNS