The issue had heated up on May 12 when a group of locals barred family members of Umesh Ram Chamar and his bride from getting married in the temple. Chamar had planned to tie the knot with a girl belonging to his own community. [break]
Criticizing the attack, a local Bhiju Thakur said that the dalits would not have had to face such brutality if the local authorities had settled the smouldering issue back then.
“Angered at being forbidden to enter the temple, a group of dalits had retaliated against the indifference shown to them by attacking Jitendra Sah, a non-dalit, and his wife, when they were returning after making out their citizenship cards. The latest attack comes in the aftermath of that attack which has remained unaddressed by the authorities,” said Thakur.
The dalits were thrashed after they tried to stop the attackers from destroying their houses.
According to Garuda Area Police Office, Haridayal Mahara, Gurudayal Mahara, Mahabir Ram, Banti Ram, Upendra Ram, Sunita Devi Ram, and Jeetni Devi Ram have received serious injuries from the attack. All the injured are being treated at a health clinic at Anamika.
Other victims identified as Ruplal Ram, Bhagwan Ram, Nandalal Ram, Dipani Devi Ram, Chandra Jyoti Ram, Kamodiya Devi and Sunauni Ram along with a dozen others have been admitted to Rautahat District Hospital at Gaur, informed police.
Describing the scene of the attack, another local, Ruplal Ram, informed that more than 100 people, who had come in four groups, attacked the dalits mercilessly. “Their houses have been destroyed and all their possessions smashed and even stolen,” said Ram.
“Had the police arrived a few hours earlier, the dalits wouldn"t have had to go through such brutality,´ added Ram.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (SP) Gobinda Ram Pariyar informed that they have arrested Ramdev Raya Yadav and Chote Lala Yadav for their involvement in the attack. “We have zero tolerance for such social discrimination and all the attackers involved will be identified and arrested very soon,” he said.
Related story
Police rescue 38 Indian nationals stranded in brick factory in...
