Hisar:
When a dalit family had an argument with members of the jat community in Hisar, 18-year-old Suman and her father Tarachand became the victims.
The sprawl began when the some jat men threw stones at Tarachand's dog and later allegedly torched nearly 25 dalit houses.
Suman, who was wheelchair-bound and her father died in the blaze.
When around 20 young men came to attack the village, 18-year-old Suman was in her house. Since she was physically challenged and did not know what else to do, she locked herself in a room. Unfortunately, it was set on fire and her body discovered the next day.
Dalits in the village say the jats, who consider themselves superior were increasingly growing jealous as many dalits were relatively well educated.
Most dalits here are matriculates and that is the heartburn.
Suman's brother Amit says, "They are just jealous of us doing well. So they will often pick up fights on small issues."
"We condemn this attack. But even our boys get beaten up by them," says Anup Singh, Former village head.
Ajay Chautala, senior leader of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), says, "Nothing worse than this can happen. The rate of such incidents is increasing in this area."
Dalits blame the police and local administration claiming that it is jat dominated. They refused to cremate the bodies till the accused were arrested. Finally, 35 people, all of them jats, were held for murder and a probe ordered into the role of the police and the administration.
But the dalits are still scared.
The sprawl began when the some jat men threw stones at Tarachand's dog and later allegedly torched nearly 25 dalit houses.
Suman, who was wheelchair-bound and her father died in the blaze.
When around 20 young men came to attack the village, 18-year-old Suman was in her house. Since she was physically challenged and did not know what else to do, she locked herself in a room. Unfortunately, it was set on fire and her body discovered the next day.
Dalits in the village say the jats, who consider themselves superior were increasingly growing jealous as many dalits were relatively well educated.
Most dalits here are matriculates and that is the heartburn.
Suman's brother Amit says, "They are just jealous of us doing well. So they will often pick up fights on small issues."
"We condemn this attack. But even our boys get beaten up by them," says Anup Singh, Former village head.
Ajay Chautala, senior leader of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), says, "Nothing worse than this can happen. The rate of such incidents is increasing in this area."
Dalits blame the police and local administration claiming that it is jat dominated. They refused to cremate the bodies till the accused were arrested. Finally, 35 people, all of them jats, were held for murder and a probe ordered into the role of the police and the administration.
But the dalits are still scared.
