— Photo: Vivek Bendre

MAINTAINING VIGIL: Police camping at Khairlanji village where four of a Dalit family were killed.

NAGPUR: At Baudh Vihar in Gittikadhan Gawlipura, Nagpur, a group of angry people came out with complaints about police violence.

Karuna Gharde was one among those protesting against the killing of Dalits in Khairlanji when the police picked her up. "There were no women police and my little daughter started crying," she recalled. Her husband Siddharth is still in jail.

The Bharatiya Republican Party Bahujan Mahasangh, led by Prakash Ambedkar, on November 10 called the protest. The police arrested thirty-one persons and many complained they were beaten up.

Kamlabai Narnavre said she was beaten up and taken to the police station. "I was going home from Baudh Vihar, when the police hit me on my back," the 80-year-old woman said.

According to Kishore Gaidhane, a local leader, the day after a peaceful rally was held on November 5, police raided several parts of the city. Three boys were beaten badly and although action was taken against the policemen involved, Mr. Gaidhane says he was harassed for filing a complaint. He was threatened and asked to withdraw it.

Raju Ramteke said he was at home when the police came looking for Mr. Gaidhane. "They broke open the door and dragged me out along with my son and nephew, who were studying for their exams. I was in jail for three days. I still don't know why I was arrested."

After the Khairlanji incident, various action committees had been formed in Bhandara, Nagpur and other parts of Maharashtra.

Anil Borkar of the People's Democratic Front of India and Sanjay Phulzale of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena were taken away from their homes on November 8 night. Mr. Borkar said: "We were accused of inciting violence. Both were active in the Vidyarthi Pragati Sanghatana and Naujavan Bharat Sabha in their student days and were arrested in 1998 and 1995 for supporting naxalites. Mr. Borkar said since then they had no connection with these groups. They spent two days in jail and were released on the condition that they had to report to the police station twice a day. They were arrested again on November 11 and released on November 13.

Ashu Saxena, who was active in the Students Federation of India and has now formed her own organisations Mahila Jan Andolan and Mahila Janwadi Samiti, was also arrested more than once. "Innocent people are being harassed and there is a simple equation that naxalites are involved in this protests," she said.

No reasons asked

Ms. Saxena and her group planned a march to Khairlanji from Nagpur from November 12. "We gave details of the route and the map and appealed to people to join us." The marchers also sought police permission, but at 5 a.m. on November 9, Ms. Saxena was arrested.

"They did not say why I was arrested and they did not have a warrant," she said. She was remanded to custody till November 14 but managed to get bail. However, on November 11, she was arrested again and produced in court the next day. She was finally let off on November 13. "Now I am accused of being a naxalite and they are framing me with false charges. I have nothing to do with Naxalites and I am trying to work in a democratic way," she added.

Activists like Prashant Tambe (30) of the Youth for Social Justice and part of a Khairlanji action committee, also fear arrest.

Mr. Tambe's group prepared a charter of demands and set up a web site for which he wrote an article. Since then he suspects his phones are being tapped by the police, who are also questioning his family and relatives.

"We have to raise our voices when something like this happens. I don't think I have done anything wrong," Mr. Tambe, a lecturer in economics, said.

The spate of protests in Nagpur has led to the police arresting 74 persons on November 6 and 7.

The proposed "long march" from the city to Khairlanji village was also stopped.

Nagpur Police Commissioner S.P.S. Yadav told The Hindu that the march was stopped due to the probability of violence.

Mr. Yadav said the police did not suspect people of being naxalites. But some of these people definitely belonged to various front organisations of naxalite groups.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail