4 killed as Dalits crushed under tractors, women thrashed in violence over land dispute in Rajasthan

May 16, 2015

Nagaur, May 16: Scores of Dalits have fled their homes in Rajasthan's Nagaur district after four people were killed by Jats, some of them run over by tractors, during a sudden flare-up of violence over a decades-old land dispute.

dalith runSix women of the Meghwal Dalit community women who were seriously injured during the clashes in Dangawas village, 250 km from state capital Jaipur, on Thursday alleged that Jats tried to rape them.

The dispute revolves round 24 bigahs of land that were mortgaged by a Dalit man 40 years ago for a loan of Rs 1,500. The man's son, 65-year-old Ratanram Meghwal, had approached Jats, the region's dominant upper caste, to give up their claim on the land but they refused.

Tensions spiked on Thursday morning when supporters of Chimanram Jat began moving towards the home of Ratanram Meghwal, which was built on the disputed land. There was a pitched battle when one group tried to occupy the land, said police officer Purna Ram.

Members of the Dalit community too gathered and took position on the roof of Maghwal's house. When the Jats got closer, Meghwal's supporters allegedly opened fire.

This enraged the Jats, and hundreds of them gathered in the choupal (common assembly area) of Dangawas and decided to attack Meghwal's home. Jats armed with guns, axes and other weapons rode dozens of tractors towards the disputed land.

Sources in Dangawas said a war-like situation prevailed in the village as the Jats crushed Meghwal's house with tractors and the two groups exchanged fire.

Three Dalits -- Meghwal, Pokaram and Pancharam - and an OBC man identified as Rampal Gosain died while women were allegedly dragged out of Meghwal's flattened house and beaten.

Reports said some of the Dalits who died were mowed down with tractors. The men on tractors also chased a woman in a bid to crush her. Though the woman evaded the tractors, she was caught by some men and thrashed with sticks, sources said.

Thirteen people, including women, were injured in the clash. The injured were admitted to Jawahalal Nehru Hospital in Ajmer. Officials described the condition of two of them as critical.

One of the injured, Bhanwari Meghwal, who suffered fractures in both legs and arms and had 15 stitches on her head, alleged that two Jat men tore off her blouse and tried to tear her ghaghra (a frock worn by village women) in an attempt to rape her. But she said she had saved herself.

Four more Dalit women - Sonika, Shobha, Badami and Papuri, who are being treated at the hospital in Ajmer - alleged they were mercilessly beaten and molested by Jat men.

"One of them grabbed my hair and dragged me about 50 metres before tearing off my duppata and hitting me on my legs and arms with an iron rod, resulting in multiple fractures," alleged Badami.

Some members of the Dalit community alleged that the Jat men had assaulted the Dalit women and tried to insert rods in their genitals. However, police officers and doctors treating the women denied this claim.

Angry Dalit leaders said they would not take the bodies of dead members of their community from the mortuary unless 13 Jat men named in an FIR were arrested.

The FIR against the 13 Jats was filed at Merta police station on Thursday. However, no arrests have been made so far.

Police officer Purna Ram said four teams had been formed to nab the accused. "We will soon arrest them," he said.

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News Network
February 5,2020

New Delhi, Feb 5: Taking on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after Shaheen Bagh shooter Kapil Baisala was identified as an AAP worker by police, BJP chief J P Nadda on Tuesday said it exposed the party and Kejriwal who were playing with the country's security.

The Aam Aadmi Party hit back, questioning the police investigation.

In a series of tweets, Nadda said people of the country and Delhi today have seen the "dirty face" of AAP.

"For political longing, Kejriwal and his people even sold the security of the country. Earlier, Kejriwal used to insult the Army and advocate terrorists, but today relations with those who carry out their terrorist activities came to light," he said.

Nadda said he wanted to make it clear to Kejriwal that this country is bigger than any election, any government, and "this nation will not forgive those who play with its security. Kejriwal and his entire team have been exposed. The people of Delhi will give a befitting reply".

He claimed the entire country has seen "photos of Imam Hussain, the MLA and former minister of the Delhi government, with a radical terrorist organisation, PFI".

Days before Delhi goes to polls, police claimed that Baisala is a member of the Aam Aadmi Party. They said Baisala joined the party in early 2019 along with his father.

Police said it had photos of Baisala purportedly joining AAP along with his father Gaje Singh last year.

AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that photos which were part of investigation were leaked to the BJP. He also said the party will approach the Election Commission to raise this issue, which has cropped up four days before the polling date.

"On whose instance, the police is giving statement? How did the photos which were part of the investigation reach the BJP? Before the news came out, Manoj Tiwari in the morning stated that the accused was from AAP. How did Manoj Tiwari get this news," Singh questioned in a press conference.

Union minister and BJP's in-charge for the Delhi polls, Prakash Javadekar, in a press conference alleged that "their (AAP's) designs are very clear from the beginning and they are trying every trick".

The whole conspiracy of AAP is to "divide society, cause fear in a community and create a vote bank," he charged.

Javadekar also claimed that photos of Baisala were recovered by police from his mobile phone although they were erased.

He also claimed that Baisala and his father were welcomed by Sanjay Singh at their joining of AAP.

"This proves AAP misleads youth and pushes them on the wrong path. AAP's strategy is to divide two communities, they want to instigate riots in Delhi," Javadekar alleged.

He further alleged that AAP leader Sanjay Singh had said violence would take place in Delhi. Their "conspiracy has been exposed by Delhi Police," he claimed.

"We condemn this politics of AAP," he said.

Javadekar also claimed this was "not an isolated incident" as AAP member Amanatullah Khan made a "very provocative speech" and the party supported Shaheen Bagh and did not give permission for the prosecution of members of the "tukde-tukde gang".

He hinted the BJP could approach the Election Commission against AAP over the issue.

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Agencies
February 25,2020

New Delhi, Feb 25: Condemning the violence in Delhi, the Congress on Tuesday demanded that the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the Chief Minister of Delhi come forward to ensure peace and maintain brotherhood while rising above partisan politics.

"This is Gandhi, Nehru, Patel's India, can any Indian accept this mindless violence? Congress appeals to the people of Delhi to maintain communal harmony and thwart all attempts of the forces dividing the country on the basis of religion," Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters.

Unabated violence and incidents of stone-pelting and murder in the national capital have shattered the nation, he said, while referring to the riots in northeast Delhi over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act that continued for the third day, and demanded stern action against the culprits.

"Our appeal to the prime minister, the home minister and the Delhi chief minister is, can you rise to the occasion, leave aside your political partisanship and views, and become really not leaders of your parties but leaders of the society so that harmony, peace, and non-violence prevail," he said.

The Congress party will stand with the Centre and the Delhi government in every way to maintain brotherhood and harmony in the society, he said.

"Do not fail this country because you belong to different political parties," Surjewala said, adding this was a sincere appeal "on behalf of people of Delhi and the country" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

"There is no place for violence in Gandhi ji's India... Today there is a need to establish peace on the ground and maintain brotherhood," he said.

Surjewala said the party also prays for the speedy recovery of DCP Amit Sharma and the hundreds of other people who have been injured in the violence.

"We also condemn the firing at three journalists Arvind Gunasekar, Saurabh Shukla and Akash and pray for their good health," he said.

"We strongly condemn these brutal riots and demand that the culprits are identified and stern action is taken against the real culprits and miscreants. The Congress mourns the death of Head Constable Ratan Lal and others in the violence," Surjewala said.

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News Network
June 18,2020

New Delhi, Jun 18: The Delhi High Court Thursday asked the Delhi Police to file status report on a plea by Jamia Coordination Committee member Safoora Zargar, who was arrested under the anti-terror law --UAPA -- seeking bail in a case related to communal violence in northeast Delhi during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in February.

Zargar, M Phil student of Jamia Millia Islamia University, is more than four months pregnant.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher issued notice to the police and asked it to file a status report on the bail plea.

The high court listed the matter for further hearing on June 22.

Zargar, who was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police on April 10, has challenged the June 4 order of the trial court denying her bail in the case.

The trial court, in its order, had said “when you choose to play with embers, you cannot blame the wind to have carried the spark a bit too far and spread the fire.”

It had said that during the course of investigation a larger conspiracy was discernible and if there was prima evidence of conspiracy, acts and statements made by any one of the conspirators, it is admissible against all.

The court had said that even if there was no direct act of violence attributable to the accused (Zargar), she cannot shy away from her liability under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

However, the trial court had asked the concerned jail superintendent to provide adequate medical aid and the assistance to Zargar.

The police had earlier claimed that Zargar allegedly blocked a road near Jaffrabad metro station during the anti-CAA protests and instigated people that led to the riots in the area.

It further claimed that she was allegedly part of the “premediated conspiracy” to incite communal riots in northeast Delhi in February.

Communal clashes had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after violence between citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled out of control leaving at least 53 people dead and scores injured.

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