Dalit families are allegedly facing caste-related atrocities at Panchabhuti village under Jagananthpur police station in Ganjam district of Odisha over use of village ponds.
The local sarpanch and husband of the nayab sarpanch, who have links with the ruling party, are alleged to have led an attack on Dalit families of the village on March 24. A joint fact-finding team of representatives of various organisations reached Panchabhuti village on Monday to enquire about the issue.
This team included State secretariat member of the CPI(M) Santosh Das, Odisha Bahujan Kranti Dal secretary-general Madhusudan Yadav, Sankar Sahu of CPI-ML (Red Star) and Odisha Dalit Adhikar Manch coordinator Basant Mallik among aothers.
The team made detailed enquiry about the attack on the 46 Dalit families by the upper castes on March 24 as well as the present situation.
On March 24, houses of these Dalit families had been attacked and ransacked. The police had arrested 14 persons in the case, including four from Dalit families and ten of upper castes.
As per this fact finding team, situation has not improved much at the village. Although a peace committee has been formed, Dalits have less confidence in it as it is dominated by the elements of the ruling party who are from the upper castes. “The sarpanch, who had led the attack, is yet to be arrested.
Even the administration has not provided adequate relief and rehabilitation measures to the affected Dalit families as per the norms,” said Mr Das.
This fact-finding team would submit its report to the Odisha CM, human rights cell of State police, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, Collector and Ganjam SP for necessary action.
Speaking to The Hindu , the team members said their enquiry has revealed that the tussle over use of three public ponds was at the root of trouble between Dalits and upper castes.
All these three ponds on government land have separate points of entry for Dalits and upper castes. While the portions used by Dalits are in a dilapidated condition, those used by upper castes are properly developed.
A person had also put a fence to restrict entry of Dalits to their side of the pond. The issue had been simmering which turned violent because of a small misunderstanding between the two groups, said Mr Mallik.
It is alleged that on March 24, a group of upper castes had attacked and beaten several Dalit persons, broken doors of their houses to ransack them, had looted valuables and made serious threats.
Till now, these families have not received any relief from the administration except for two quintals of rice, said Mr Sahu.
