Attacks force Dalits in Rajasthan flee villages

Dalit families of Husheypura village in Alwar district and Chandpur in Bharatpur district fled enmasse when they were attacked by members of another community over petty disputes. While in Husheypura, violence erupted  on January 19 after a hen came under the wheels of a tractor being driven by a Dalit farmer, the houses of Dalit families were stoned in Chandpur after a goat strayed into the farm of another community member on Wednesday.
Husheypura, with 800 Dalits, and Chandpur, with 700, are nearly 100 and 115 km, respectively, from the district headquarters in Alwar and Bharatpur.

“A team of National Human Rights Commission has visited Husheypura. Many families have fled the village, and despite our assurances to them only a few have returned,” a senior district administration official told IANS on condition of anonymity. He added that they are providing all possible assistance to the victims.

Ramsahay, a resident of Chandpur said: “They stoned my house for two hours. I sustained injuries on my head. I had to take shelter in my relative’s house in a nearby village. After I was assured of safety by the police, I returned on Thursday night. But many others have not returned.”

According to latest NCRB report, as many as 6,168 cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were registered in Rajasthan in 2009.