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Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service
Hisar, July 17
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has asked the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police (DGP) and Hisar Deputy Commissioner (DC) to appear before the chairman for a hearing in connection with the six-year-old Bhagana issue.
Dalits of Bhagana had been holding a dharna for six years, claiming atrocities by upper castes who socially boycotted them in 2012 after a row over shamlat (common) land. They stated that the atrocities continued and many families were forced to leave the village.
After rehabilitation of Dalits of Mirchpur village, they demanded that they should be resettled in the same locality in Dhandur village, which had been earmarked for Mirchpur families.
Ram Shankar Katheria, NCSC chairman, asked the Chief Secretary, DGP and Hisar DC to come to the commission headquarters in Delhi on August 6.
He asked the officers to bring action taken report and all relevant documents, including files and case diaries, to facilitate the hearing. The investigation officer of the case and the petitioner were also asked to attend the hearing.
Ashok Kumar Meena, DC, said he had visited the village and people were living cordially in the village. “Some families have shifted for their livelihood. I have submitted an affidavit in this regard to the High Court,” he said.
Shakti Singh, sarpanch, claimed that there was no dispute in the village. “People of all sections of society live in peace. Only a couple of people are trying to raise the issue for their vested interests,” he said.
The NCSC took the action on the basis of a visit report of former NCSC member Ishwar Singh in July 2014 and a representation by Dalits of Bhagana village in this regard.
Sources said the administration had swung into action following the NCSC’s directions for detailed hearing in the case. The Chief Secretary asked the district administration to submit all relevant details in his office.
A piece of 300 square yards of common land near a Dalit locality led to a dispute between Dalits and upper castes on May 21, 2012. The village panchayat had got a wall erected around the disputed land, resulting in blocking of entry to houses of two Dalit families.
The issue snowballed after a dispute over a sports ground and distribution of common land. Four Dalit girls were allegedly abducted and gang-raped, after which 97 family fled the village. A local court acquitted the accused and the case was now pending appeal in the High Court.
Dalit youth Satish Kajla, sitting on dharna at the Mini-Secretariat, said they were socially boycotted by upper castes. Demanding rehabilitation, he demanded criminal cases against the accused and justice for victims of atrocities.
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