Other States - Rajasthan   

Jan Sunwai exposes total bias against Dalits

Special Correspondent

Nexus between police and perpetrators of excesses comes to light during public hearing of cases

JAIPUR: The inability of Dalits to get justice in instances of atrocities and their continued persecution prompted the "jury'' at a Jan Sunwai (public hearing) organised in Pali early this week to recommend a review of all these cases and fix responsibility of the officials concerned, while exposing the nexus that safeguards the perpetrators of excesses.

About two dozen cases involving murder, attempt to murder, physical abuse and social boycott of Dalits and untouchability rampant on a large-scale in Pali district were presented in the public hearing -- the first of its kind -- organised by the Centre for Dalit Rights and Rajasthan chapter of the National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights.

A group of five lawyers joined the participants to point out the subversion of legal process during investigations into these cases and lacunae in the police probe that had helped the accused. Moreover, the alleged nexus between police and medical officials had ensured that the criminals could never be brought to book, said the lawyers.

Most of the cases were such in which chargesheets had been submitted in the trial courts. A team of police officials led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police, specially invited to the hearing to state the present status of the cases, was the target of ire of the participants.

A large number of victims of caste oppression from various parts of the district narrated the instances of discrimination, exploitation and unfair treatment for simply being Dalits and apprised the jury of the methods adopted for their persecution on the assertion of rights.

The members of the jury, painstakingly recording their detailed observations in each case, underlined the need for providing legal assistance to Dalits with social monitoring. Mahesh Boda, senior lawyer of the Rajasthan High Court, said the mindset of police on the cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act needed a drastic change.

Preeti Ojha, social activist and a jury member, suggested that Dalit police stations be established in the regions prone to excesses against Dalits and regular monitoring of these crimes be carried out.

Kavita Srivastava of People's Union for Civil Liberties said the security measures for Dalits should be strengthened.

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