Bihar sees spurt in crime against Mahadalits

Last month, 300 families had to flee homes to find safe shelter for a few days

With a 15-year old Mahadalit boy allegedly burnt to death by a group of upper caste men late on Wednesday, the spotlight is once again on the recent spurt in crime against Mahadalits in a State where the Chief Minister himself comes from the community.

The recent incident happened at Mohanpur village under Karakat police station of Rohtas district when 15-year old boy Sai Ram was grazing his goat which strayed into the field of one Kunkun Singh. The village strongman along with three associates allegedly thrashed Sai Ram for this.

The boy ran away from the spot and took shelter in his house. Later, Kunkun Singh and his associates reached the house and allegedly set Sai Ram on fire after pouring kerosene on him.

“I took my son bruised with the severe burn injuries to the local Bikramganj hospital but he was declared brought dead,” said Jitu Ram, father of Sai Ram.

After a police case registered against Kunkun Singh and his three associates the police arrested one of them on Thursday.

Earlier, on October 8 five Mahadalit women were allegedly gang-raped by three upper caste youths at Kurmuri village in Bhojpur district. Besides these two incidents, atrocities against scheduled caste people in the State have become a regular affair.

On Tuesday night a 16-year old Dalit girl was allegedly gangraped by four men at Sanhauli village in Khagaria district. The girl whose parents died some few years ago was living with her grandmother while working as a domestic help.

She later lodged a police case at Chitraguptanagar police station.

“The accused Chhotu Tanti and Sintu Tanti have been arrested while Mausam Kumar and Roshan Tanti are at large,” said Kim, Khagaria Superintendent of Police.

Similarly on Tuesday four Mahadalit women of a family were brutally beaten up by village strongmen at Lodipur village under Kadirganj police station in Masaurhi of Patna district on a trifle issue. Two weeks back a Mahadalit Shyamdeo Manjhi was killed at Tiskhora village under Naubatpur police station in Patna district. All the three accused persons later had surrendered in the court and sent to jail.

Last month, 300 Mahadalit families had to flee away their village, Pura under Tekari police station of Gaya district and take shelter in a government building for four days for the fear of some upper caste strongmen of the village.