Doaba shuts over ‘atrocities’ against Dalits

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 10

All markets in the Doaba region remained shut throughout the day as various Dalit organisations held a protest against the Hathras rape and murder case and the SC Post-Matric Scholarship Scam in Punjab.

Roads and highways leading to Phagwara, Pathankot, Nakodar and Hoshiarpur were blocked. Even as the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) did not organise any protest today, the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Sant Samaj, Bhim Army, BSP (A), Valmiki Tiger Force and Bahujan Samaj Front took up the issue of atrocities committed against the Dalit girl and her family in Uttar Pradesh.

Bhim Army chief joins protests

Bhim Army president Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan took part in the protests held in Jalandhar, Phagwara, Phillaur and Ludhiana. He also paid obeisance at a prominent dera in Doaba. At the dharnas, he condemned the Hathras incident and demanded a government job for the family of the victim.

While ex-Congress minister Joginder Mann led the protests in Phagwara, Bhim Army president Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan took part in the protests held in Jalandhar, Phagwara, Phillaur and Ludhiana. He also paid obeisance at a prominent dera in Doaba. At the dharnas, he condemned the Hathras incident and demanded a government job for the family of the victim.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders, including Manoranjan Kalia, KD Bhandari and Mohinder Bhagat, organised a parallel dharna at BSF Chowk over the SC Post-Matric Scholarship Scam.

In Bathinda too, various organisations held a protest against the Hathras incident. The protesters were seen holding placards demanding justice for the victim.

The Bathinda Social Group, Democratic Right Sabha, Punjabi Sahit Sabha, Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha, Bhim Army, Bathinda, Suchet Punjabi, Bathinda, and Istri Sabha, Punjab, were among the organisations which took out a march in Bathinda city against the incident.

The members said all the proof was buried as the victim’s body was cremated in the middle of the night. They demanded justice for the victim’s family.