Dalit Tragedies: The Hidden Horrors of Caste Violence

Dalit Man Killed for Using Public Tap

On November 27 last year, a harrowing episode of caste-based violence unfolded in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun. Kamlesh, a member of the Dalit community, tragically lost his life following a seemingly mundane act—his children fetching water from a public tap. That day, his children were rebuked by villagers for using the tap, a privilege begrudgingly viewed as exclusive to the upper castes. 

Warned sternly against repeating such an act, the matter escalated tragically by evening. Kamlesh, returning from his fields, was mercilessly beaten by Suraj and an accomplice, armed with wooden logs and sticks, simply because his children had drawn water from that public tap. It was this innocuous act that infuriated some from the upper caste, culminating in the killing of Kamlesh.

The details of the tragic incident, as per the First Information Report (FIR) lodged by the Badaun police, paint a stark picture of brutality. According to the FIR, "Suraj commenced his assault on Kamlesh by hurling abuses and striking him with a stick. The blows inflicted severe head injuries on Kamlesh, all witnessed by his family and numerous villagers. Following the attack, Suraj fled the scene, leaving Kamlesh critically injured. Kamlesh was taken to a nearby hospital where, given the gravity of his injuries, he was referred to Badaun Medical College. Despite the medical efforts, Kamlesh succumbed to his injuries."

What is even more appalling than the attack itself is the subsequent apathy displayed by onlookers. In a conversation with Kamlesh’s wife, Sarawati, she conveyed a deeply distressing account of apathy, stating, "This brutal assault on Kamlesh was witnessed by many. Yet, no one intervened. Kamlesh’s life might have been spared had anyone cared to act, but instead, they merely watched the show." 

Kamlesh's wife further alleges a disconcerting attempt by the police to manipulate the evidence in her husband's case. She claims, "The actual weapon, a heavy wooden log used in the attack, was ignored by the police, who instead picked up a small stick from nearby. I was bewildered, unsure of the investigative process. It's unclear what is being done, as no one from the police has maintained any communication with us or updated me on the case's progress."

Echoing this sentiment, Sonu, Kamlesh’s brother-in-law, expresses a deep sense of abandonment and fear. "We have received no relief or support from the police. This was clearly a caste-based atrocity, a fact well-known throughout our village, yet the police have not pursued the investigation as they should. We continue to live in fear within our own village, apprehensive of further harm from upper caste individuals, especially given that Kamlesh left behind small children," he states.

Disabled Dalit Man Brutally Assaulted for Sitting on a Cot

The tragedy of Kamlesh is not a singular incident but part of a broader pattern of caste-based violence persisting in 21st-century India. More disturbing than the heinousness of these crimes is the profound apathy exhibited by authorities tasked with protection and justice.

In another grievous incident within the same month, in Gujarat's Patan district, a physically challenged 20-year-old Dalit man named Ashwin Parmar fell victim to a brutal attack. Men from the Thakur community assaulted him simply for sitting on a cot owned by the upper caste Thakur community members.

The assault on Ashwin Parmar, a daily wage worker, was not just physical but also caught on video and widely circulated. In an interview with The Probe, Ashwin recounts a distressing ordeal rooted in deep-seated caste discrimination. "I am a poor man from the lower caste," he begins. 

His story starts on a day when he and his friends went to eat at a local restaurant. There, he sat on a cot that was reserved for the upper caste Thakur community, but he didn't know about this reservation. His innocent mistake of sitting on the cot sparked immediate confrontation. "They asked me why I was sitting there and then started hurling casteist slurs," Ashwin recalls. Despite his apologies, the response was ruthless: a violent beating by 10 to 15 people.

Following the attack, Ashwin was hospitalised, and only thereafter was a case registered. "In my village, these kinds of instances are very common. No one raises these issues," he laments. 

When asked why the victims don’t seek help from the local sarpanch and take on the criminals who perpetrate caste-based violence head-on inside the village, Aswin states, “The problem is the sarpanch also belongs to the Thakur community". 

Like in many other cases, Ashwin’s attackers are also out on bail but he remains firm in his resolve to get the perpetrators punished. He states, “It’s not just justice for me but if they get stringent punishment, this would be a signal to society that such acts of violence and discrimination will not be tolerated in India today”.

Killed for Daring to Seek Justice 

Tragically, not all members of the Dalit community are able to seek justice for the violence they endure, and some, like Gitaben Maru, pay the ultimate price in their quest for justice. Gitaben's story is a stark reminder of the harsh realities faced by many in the struggle against caste-based discrimination. Her son, Gautam, was a victim of caste violence in 2020 in Gujarat.

Gitaben was brutally beaten to death in November last year with steel pipes near her home in Bhavnagar, simply because she refused to convince her son to withdraw a case filed by him against the members of the upper caste related to an incident of violence against him. The accused and their accomplices demanded she compromise and settle the matter out of court. When she resisted, they resorted to lethal violence in an attempt to forcibly silence her family. According to the police report, the attack left Gitaben with multiple fractures and injuries. In a further display of cruelty, the attackers also threatened her husband and daughter, forcing them to flee for their lives.

Gautam Maru, still grieving the tragic loss of his mother Gitaben, shared with us a heart-wrenching account of the delayed justice in this case. "They had first targeted me three years ago, trying to control where I went and what I did. It was clear-cut caste-based violence; they injured me severely," Gautam recounts. His decision to seek justice through the legal system led to an ongoing court case, which seemed poised to finally deliver some form of punishment to the perpetrators. However, this prospect of accountability apparently instilled fear in the accused.

In a desperate attempt to evade consequences, they approached Gitaben, demanding she persuade Gautam to withdraw the charges. "When my mother steadfastly refused, they resorted to barbaric violence," Gautam continued, his voice heavy with sorrow. "They attacked her with steel pipes, savagely breaking her hands and legs, ultimately killing her."

Brothers Killed as Police Looked the Other Way

Last year in Gujarat, a horrific incident took place that further highlights the ongoing struggle for land rights faced by the Dalit community. Aalji Parmar and his brother Manoj Parmar were fatally beaten in a dispute that has roots stretching back to 1998. Despite a favourable ruling from a lower court affirming their rights to their ancestral land, the Parmar brothers were violently attacked and killed by a group of 12 to 15 individuals.

Jayesh, the son of Aljibhai Parmar, recounted the gruesome assault: "They brutally and violently attacked my father and uncle. Both suffered very serious injuries and died." The severity of the attack, combined with the remote location of the incident, hindered emergency response efforts. "The place where the incident happened was very remote. We couldn't even find an ambulance immediately. The police station was also not nearby," Jayesh explained. Ultimately, the brothers were taken to Surendranagar hospital, but they succumbed to their injuries. The violence also left their mother injured.

Jayesh revealed to us that although 12 individuals were apprehended by the police, three perpetrators still remain at large. He firmly believes that the attack was motivated by caste prejudices, pointing out that the success his family achieved through hard work and perseverance could not be tolerated by the upper caste individuals in his village. "My family worked very hard; my father and uncle really strived to make it big. But the upper caste people would say that we are Dalits and it doesn’t suit us to be wealthy."  

Jayesh also highlighted a broader issue of systemic bias in his village, noting that caste-based oppression is a common yet largely ignored problem. "The local administration and the police always side with the upper caste communities," he asserted. The arrest of the 12 individuals in his family's case was an exception rather than the norm, driven by the severe nature of the crime and substantial media attention. "This was a case of double murder and it became viral; that’s why action was taken. We refused to take the bodies of our family members for three days until we got justice. But in other cases, no one gets justice."

Through his grief, Jayesh hopes that his family's ordeal will serve as a warning to his village and the neighbouring villages that caste-based atrocities will no longer be tolerated. "I hope this case at least serves as a reminder that caste-based atrocities will not go unnoticed. We want the perpetrators of this crime to receive a life sentence," he states. 

Jayesh poignantly added that the tragic deaths of his father and uncle could have been prevented had the police acted promptly and taken their concerns seriously. "My father and uncle had approached the police on two occasions, warning them that they were facing threats and needed protection. Each time, the police dismissed them, demanding proof and treating these threats as trivial—commonplace issues," he explained.

The failure to protect became even more apparent on the day of the assault. "Even on the day of the incident, my father tried to call the local police for help, but they didn't answer the call. In response to these severe oversights and the resultant public outcry three police officials were suspended," Jayesh notes.

Mounting Cases, Lacklustre Response: Addressing the Surge in Caste-Based Violence

The cases mentioned above show the arduous and often fruitless journey for justice faced by victims of caste-based violence in India. These are not isolated incidents but part of a pervasive pattern of discrimination that plagues the Dalit community. Sadly, while some cases capture media attention and lead to public outcry, countless others go unreported and unnoticed.

Many such cases of atrocities against Dalits occur daily in the country, but a vast majority of them go unreported. The ones that do make it to the pages of newspapers are those that often do not result in any conviction.

Recent reports from Uttar Pradesh highlight this ongoing struggle. For instance, on April 2, a distressing incident was reported in Gorakhpur district where a Class VI Dalit student was assaulted by a teacher at Murarpur Primary School for not touching his feet. The incident was accompanied by caste-related slurs hurled by the teacher at the student. 

Further south in Tamil Nadu, on April 26, it was reported that miscreants contaminated the water supply of a Dalit colony in Gandharvakottai, Pudukkottai district, with cow dung.

Additionally, a tragic case of caste-based honour killing occurred recently in Chennai, where a Dalit man was murdered by a five-member gang, following which the victim's wife committed suicide from the grief and shock of the incident.

These incidents reflect a broader, more alarming trend captured in the ‘Crime in India, 2022’ report by the National Crime Records Bureau, which noted a significant increase in atrocities against Dalits in 2022 compared to previous years. Uttar Pradesh, in particular, recorded the highest number of such atrocities. The NCRB data indicate that crimes against Scheduled Castes (SCs) increased by 13 percent and against Scheduled Tribes (STs) by 14.3 percent in 2022. This uptick reveals a deepening crisis of caste-based violence and discrimination in India.

Rules in Place, Implementation in Question: The Reality of SC/ST Protection Law

S.R. Darapuri, a social activist and former IPS officer from Uttar Pradesh, expressed concerns about the efficacy of The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. While acknowledging that the legislation is intended to protect members of the SC/ST communities, Darapuri pointed out its limitations in curbing the violence the community faces. "The law exists, but the real question is, is the law effective? We need a law that instils a genuine sense of fear among potential offenders," he states.

Darapuri highlights systemic issues within the police force that contribute to the ineffectiveness of the law. "The attitude of the policemen towards Dalits is the main problem. It starts manifesting from the moment a Dalit individual attempts to register an FIR. Often, the police refuse to register the FIR or, if they do, it's not done properly," he explains. 

This initial reluctance to take complaints seriously sets a precedent for the rest of the judicial process. "Subsequent investigations are marred by delays and improper conduct towards the victims, leading to further distress. This often results in delayed prosecutions, during which witnesses may turn hostile due to the prolonged process, ultimately leading to a failure in delivering justice to the complainant," Darapuri elaborates.

He further highlights the challenges faced by marginalised victims when dealing with the police. He notes that the FIR process often becomes compromised due to the influence of more powerful perpetrators. "Most of the time, because the victims come from extremely marginalised backgrounds, the police take liberties with the FIR, shaping the complaint to suit their biases or under external pressures. This manipulation not only undermines the integrity of the legal process but also places an undue burden on the victims, who face constant pressure to withdraw their complaints,” he adds.

Darapuri emphasises the lack of support from law enforcement as a significant obstacle. "There's a constant lack of cooperation from the police, which is a major factor in the ineffectiveness of the law. The law itself is sound, but its implementation is flawed. Law enforcers found neglecting their duties should be held accountable," he asserts.

Discussing the provisions of the SC/ST Act, Darapuri points out the intended infrastructure to support these cases, which is often not realised in practice. "The SC/ST Act mandates exclusive courts and prosecutors to handle these cases, ensuring focused attention and quicker disposal. However, most states do not establish these exclusive courts; they simply designate existing courts that also handle regular cases. This leads to an overload, resulting in SC/ST cases not being effectively or timely resolved," he explains.

Overdue Compliance: Where Are the Mandated Vigilance Committees and Their Meetings?

The SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995, mandate the constitution of District-level Vigilance and Monitoring Committees in each district. According to Rule 17, the District Magistrate is responsible for setting up these committees to review the implementation of the Act, relief and rehabilitation facilities for victims, prosecution of cases under the Act, and the roles of various officers and agencies involved. Additionally, the rules stipulate that the State Government shall establish a high-power vigilance and monitoring commission, chaired by the Chief Minister. This commission is required to meet at least twice a year, specifically in January and July, to oversee and ensure the implementation of the provisions of the Act and related matters.

However, compliance with these regulations is markedly deficient across many states. Darapuri points out that in his extensive experience within Uttar Pradesh, administrations under neither Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav, or Yogi Adityanath have ever held a single meeting of this high-power committee. In most other states as well, these committees hardly ever meet. Many of the states have not even set up committees. The Central government has so far not been able to monitor compliance to the rules by the states. 

We have reached out to the Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment for comments on the story. As of now, we are yet to receive a response. This article will be updated once we obtain a response from the ministry.

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