» 08/30/2007 11:58 INDIA Haryana: clashes between police and Dahlits dozens injured by Nirmala Carvalho The balmiki community protests over the murder of Rakesh Kumar, imprisoned for assassinating Baljit Siwaich (from a superior caste) and then released because innocent.
Faridabad (AsiaNews) – Violent clashes between police and Dahlits took place in various cities and towns across the northern state of Haryana yesterday following the murder of an outcast from the balmiki community.
The root of recent tensions dates to 2005, when a Dahlit named Rakesh Kumar was accused of having killed Baljit Siwaich, from a higher cast. Despite the fact that there was no proof against Rakesh, following his arrest the local community immediately burned over 100 Dahlit homes, forcing over 2 thousand people to flee.
Not long ago, Rakesh was released due to the lack of evidence but on August 27 three unidentified men shot him dead as he slept in his home. This murder forced the balmiki community onto the streets in protest to seek justice and integration.
Rajni Tilak, President of the Delhi based- Centre for Alternative Dalit Media (CADAM) spoke to
AsiaNews: “It is a blot on democratic India, that even after 60 years of Independence, these so called upper class neither respect the law nor the judgement of the courts- and these think they are a ‘superior class and define themselvesas’ upper caste, when they do not even know how to respect a fellow human being”.
