Sunday, May 22, 2011

Dalits Media watch News Updates 21.05.11

Dalits Media watch

News Updates 21.05.11

Dalit gram pradhan was killed - Indian Express

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dalit-gram-pradhan-was-killed/793166/

Dalit girl raped and murdered in Bihar - Indian Express

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dalit-girl-raped-and-murdered-in-bihar/793214/

Nearly 39,000 offences against SC/ST in 2008 - Indian Express

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/nearly-39-000-offences-against-sc-st-in-2008/763328/

Puttur: Dalits Demand Release of Encroached Land – Officials Act Immediately - Dajjiworld

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=102762&n_tit=Puttur%3A+Dalits+Demand+Release+of+Encroached+Land+%96+Officials+Act+Immediately

Sanand violence: 9 arrested - DNA

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_sanand-violence-9-arrested_1545884

Man killed for having food with Dalits in Uttar Pradesh Deccan Herald

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/163005/man-killed-having-food-dalits.html

Free vocational training for SC, ST candidates - The Hindu

http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/21/stories/2011052164720300.htm

Love for the US - The Pioneer

http://www.dailypioneer.com/338669/Love-for-the-US.html

31 pct of newly-elected MLAs have criminal cases: Study - Indian Express

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/31-pct-of-newlyelected-mlas-have-criminal-cases-study/793611/

Indian Express

Dalit gram pradhan was killed

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dalit-gram-pradhan-was-killed/793166/

Thu May 19 2011, 16:05 hrs Mainpuri:

A dalit gram pradhan was killed and another person seriously injured in a shoot out here this morning, police said.

Dara Singh Jatav, gram pradhan of Gadiya Chinkaura in Bewar police station was going with Sadhukar Yadav when he was shot at near Khuja.

While Jatav died on the spot, Yadav was referred to Agra hospital in a serious condition.

Later, the locals staged a protest placing the body on the road demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.

Superintendent of Police Happy Gupta said the incident appeared to be a fallout of some rivalry in the village.

Indian Express

Dalit girl raped and murdered in Bihar

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dalit-girl-raped-and-murdered-in-bihar/793214/

Thu May 19 2011, 16:48 hrs Biharsharif:

A dalit girl was allegedly raped and murdered by two persons in Mahila village in Bihar's Nalanda district, police said today.

Finding the girl alone at her home, the duo entered the house and raped her before slitting her throat with a sharp object last night, superintendent of police Jitendra Rana said.

The girl's family members were away in Dhanbad to attend a wedding, he said.

The neighbours found the girl lying in a pool of blood this morning and informed the police.

A case has been registered in this connection and raids are on to apprehend the culprits, Rana said.

Indian Express

Nearly 39,000 offences against SC/ST in 2008

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/nearly-39-000-offences-against-sc-st-in-2008/763328/

Wed Mar 16 2011, 17:58 hrs New Delhi:

Nearly 39,000 police cases under the (Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes) SC/ST (Prevention of atrocities) Act were registered all over the country in 2008, with the maximum of 7,969 offences registered in Uttar Pradesh, Parliament was informed today.

Tabling the 2008 annual report on Schedule Caste/Schedule Tribe (PoA) Act in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment D Napoleon said 38,943 cases were registered in 2008 as compared to 35,352 the previous year.

He said that of the 79.4 per cent cases of atrocities pending in various courts, the conviction rate was 31.4 per cent.

Fifty three per cent of the cases relating to SCs figured in charge sheets in courts during 2008 and 21.5 per cent cases were closed after investigations. Likewise, 57 per cent of the cases related to STs were named in the charge sheets in this period and 17 per cent cases were closed after probe, the report said.

The report said that while Uttar Pradesh accounted for the maximum cases against SC, with 7,960 cases, Madhya Pradesh had registered the maximum cases against ST with 1,071 offences.

While tabling the report, Napoleon cited reasons for the delay in laying the annual report for 2008 and said certain state governments were slow in giving their reports to the ministry.

Napoleon also said the National Crime Records Bureau had furnished the data for 2008 only in February 2010, adding to the delay.

Dajjiworld

Puttur: Dalits Demand Release of Encroached Land – Officials Act Immediately

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=102762&n_tit=Puttur%3A+Dalits+Demand+Release+of+Encroached+Land+%96+Officials+Act+Immediately

Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (SP)

Puttur, May 21: Dalits from nearby villagers held a protest programme at Kadaba in the taluk on Friday May 20, in protest against the failure of the revenue department to drive away encroachers from 20 acres of government land located in Aittoor and Nekkiladi villages, which have been earmarked for distribution among the dalits. The revenue department, which swung into action in the evening, announced that it had wrested back government land from six of the encroachers.

The protest was led by Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (Ambedkar). The protestors said that six persons from Aittoor and three from Nekkiladi village had encroached upon 20 acres of government land, and the incessant demand for their eviction over the years had not been met by the department. They demanded steps against the taluk tahsildar for his failure to take back the encroached land and hand the same over to the dalits. The protestors also accused MLA Angara, who got elected from Sullia, a constituency reserved for scheduled communities, of becoming a puppet in the hands of upper classes of the society and rich people, and thereby ignoring the

When deputy tahsildar, Vishwanath Poojary, approached the protestors and assured them to convey their grievances to higher officials, the protestors refused to budge. They demanded for the presence of assistant commissioner. At around 3 pm, assistant commissioner, Harish Kumar, came to the spot, and promised them to recover the land in question within a week.

Dalit Sangharsh Samiti Dakshina Kannada district president, S P Anand, organizing convener, Sanjeev, Dalit Seva Samiti district president, B K Sheshappa, and a number of other dalit leaders had participated in the protest, along with local people.

The revenue department, in an operation undertaken on Friday evening, announced that it succeeded in taking back government land from six encroachers. They said that out of the balance three, one case is pending in the court, whereas in two other cases, they are unable to evict the encroachers, as residential houses are located in the sites encroached by these families.

DNA

Sanand violence: 9 arrested

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_sanand-violence-9-arrested_1545884

Published: Saturday, May 21, 2011, 12:04 IST

Place: Ahmedabad | Agency: DNA

Police on Friday arrested 9 people responsible for rioting in Sanand on Thursday night and have geared up to arrest at least 15 more.

Over 300 cops and a team of fire brigade have been deployed in the area to control any untoward incident. Mob manhandled four cops in the melee and police fired around 20 rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the unruly mob. Police sources said two shops, five vehicles and around 12 hand carts and roadside shops were burnt during the clash. "For more than an hour we couldn't do anything and had to run for our lives. In fact, the mob indulged in fighting with police a couple of hours after the clash between the two communities," said a police official.

Explaining the situation, district superintendent of police Sandeep Singh said the police were in the middle of the mob. The area near Sanand bus stand from where the clash erupted is dominated by Dalits. At the other side, near Nalsarovar circle, Darbars have majority presence. Both sides started pelting stones during the clash in which cops got stuck in the middle.

"By the time we called for additional reinforcements, clashes between the two communities had almost stopped, and the mob started targeting the police," Singh said, who added that three FIRs have been lodged in connection with the clash, two from both the communities while the third was lodged by the police itself.

While thick smoke still billowed from roadside shops, firemen fought hard to douse fresh flames that leaped up sporadically from the rubble. A paan kiosk still blazed when district SP, Sandeep Singh, popped up with a helmet on his head waving a wooden stick in his hand.

"Things are under control now," he said with a relieved gesture, while Ashish Bhatia, Ahmedabad range inspector-general strolled the area which witnessed a curfew-like situation after it was ransacked by Dalits and Darbars. A spat between two individuals - a shopkeeper and a Dalit customer - exploded to such proportions that it literally put the main market of Sanand in ransom.

This is the first time such violent clashes erupted between the two communities. Many police officials were also of the opinion that onlythe Darbars and Kodi Patels were known to fight each other while Dalits distanced themselves from such violent activities.

Rubble lying on the road revealed the magnitude of violence. Near the police outpost couple of bikes, including one that belonged to cops, lay in cinders. "We had to run away from the mob initially when the brawl started and could intervene only when additional forces arrived," said a constable. In fact, a new battle started between the mob and cops. By 1 am, an uneasy calm prevailed over Sanand. A middle-aged woman with her teenaged daughter came searching for her missing husband.

"Where can I find him, saheb?", she asked the cops, who however, chose to ignore her out of anger. The night too seemed equally angry.

Deccan Herald

Man killed for having food with Dalits in Uttar Pradesh Sanjay Pandey,

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/163005/man-killed-having-food-dalits.html

Lucknow, May 20

In a shocking incident, an old man was strangled to death allegedly by the members of his community for having food at a feast organised by a Dalit family at a village in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur district, about 225 km from here. Ironically the victim also belonged to ''kurmi'' (a backward community).

According to police sources here, 65-year-old Paras Nath Patel and his members of his family were invited by the dalit family to attend the wedding ceremony of a girl at Kuruthuwa village in the district on Wednesday last. The "kurmi" community to which Paras Nath belonged had decided not to attend the ceremony and have food with the dalits as they considered them "untouchables".

Paras Nath, however, defied his community and his entire family had food with the dalits at the feast, which enraged the "kurmi" community of his village, sources said.

Irked over Paras Nath's defiance, the "kurmi" community held a "panchayat" at the village on Thursday to deliberate on the matter and take action against Paras. The members of the panchayat wanted to expel Paras Nath from the community for defying the diktat.

The son of Paras, who was also present at the panchayat, alleged that the community members used expletives against Paras following which he had heated exchange of words with them.

Some members of the panchayat allegedly strangled Paras with a towel killing him on the spot. A case of murder has been registered against seven people, sources said. The culprits had been absconding.

Barely a few days ago, members of the "brahmin" community had refused to have food with dalits at a religious feast at a village in UP's Maharajganj district.

The Hindu

Free vocational training for SC, ST candidates

http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/21/stories/2011052164720300.htm

Special Correspondent

TIRUCHI: Applications have been invited from eligible candidates from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and converted Adi Dravida Christians for undergoing the free vocational training programme conducted by the Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing and Development Corporation (TAHDCO).

Fifty-candidates from the specified communities would be offered training under the programme in the district this year. Training would be offered in Tally ERP 9 through the M/s.CSC Computer Education Ltd., near the Tiruverambur panchayat union office. The training programme would be for a period of four months and both men and women, with qualifications of Plus Two and above, are eligible to undergo the programme.

The trainees will be given a stipend of Rs.400 a month. The candidates should be in the age group of 18 to 35 and their annual family income should be below Rs.2 lakhs. Interested candidates can apply to the District Manager, TAHDCO, Collector's Office Road, Raja Colony, Tiruchi-1, on or before May 27, Collector Mahesan Kasirajan said in a press release.

The Pioneer

Love for the US

http://www.dailypioneer.com/338669/Love-for-the-US.html

May 21, 2011 1:47:03 PM

Chandrabhan Prasad

White Americans fought for Blacks, but Hindus don't for Dalits

Dr Ambedkar was still alive when the historic Montgomery Bus Boycott in the US began in November 1955. The boycott by the Black Americans is one of the greatest flashpoint in the history of Black movement. If a White person boarded a bus and found all seats occupied, any Black passenger seated had to vacate his seat. Rosa Parks, a Black woman from Montgomery, refused to vacate the seat for a White passenger. The result — she was arrested. This triggered the historic Civil Rights movement in the US that was lead by Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

In at least 16 American towns and cities, Black and White marriages were a crime. When Dr Ambedkar visited the country, racial segregation was common in restaurants and theaters where the Blacks had separate washrooms. There were separate schools as well. Yet, Dr Ambedkar was so fond of the US that he wanted India to be names as the United States of India. Why? Everything on this planet exists in relation to other things. While thinking of Dalits and India, Dr Ambedkar always had Blacks and America in mind.

Christopher Columbus discovers America in 1492. Over 100 years later, Europeans begun to enter the New World. In 1607, the first town — James Town was set up (present day Virginia). In 1619, the first ship with 20 Black slaves reached the American soil. In other words, history of American Blacks began in 1619 — approximately four centuries ago. Blacks' sufferings will have few parallels. While White Americans' cruelty is well recorded and is played out in the public imagery time and again, not much is spoken about a sizable section of White Americans who had a more humane approach towards them.

Abraham Lincoln's emancipation proclamation (ending slavery in the US) occurred on January 1, 1863. That meant, in less than two-and-half-centuries, Blacks in the US became free citizens. Since when has untouchability been a part of India? And when will it end?

"Depressed classes will never be satisfied of the bona fides of the caste Hindus sympathisers until it is proved that they are prepared to fight against their own kith and kin in actual warfare if it came to that for the sake of the 'depressed classes' as the Whites of the North America (US) did against their own — the Whites of the South for the sake of the emancipation of the Negro," Dr Ambedkar writes (Vol 5, p 370). Dr Ambedkar wrote the above lines onboard a ship headed to London where he was to attend the Round Table Conference.

Let me elaborate the context. The Whites in US fighting their own for Blacks and Hindus fighting caste Hindus for Dalits. Dr Ambedkar made the comparison when the Hindu organisations promised him that they will solve the issue of untouchability. Like India, the US too has demographic divisions — South and North. While the southern region was primarily agrarian and feudalistic, the northern was industrialising, urbanising and becoming a Capitalist economy.

Since industrialisation, urbanisation, Capitalism and modernity would be a contradiction with slavery, this region started to raise its voice against slavery and its abolition. The agrarian/feudal southern region insisted the continuation of the slavery.

In the 1860 Presidential elections Democrats and Republicans fought a battle centered on the question of slavery. The Democratic Party nominee Stephen Arnold Douglas in his election campaign accused Abraham Lincoln as a Black Republican abolitionist. Lincoln won the election in 1860 and the American Civil War began in 1861.

Fearing that the new Government headed by Lincoln might abolish slavery, southern States decided to secede from the US and claimed a new country called the Confederate States of America.

America's Civil War (1861–1865) was fought between Whites and Whites — both with ancestries of slave ownerships. During the war, about seven lakh Americans were killed and millions were injured. At that time, the Black population constituted about 10 per cent of the US population, therefore, majority of those killed and wounded were Whites.

Dr Ambedkar cites many more examples when the Whites stood with the Blacks. He wanted to know if Hindus would go the same extent as the White Americans did in support of Blacks?

In a book titled Hindus and Their Want of Social Conscience (Vol 5, pp. 87-99), Dr Ambedkar gives details of what the Whites did for the Blacks during 1865-1930.

Dr Ambedkar explained why the Hindus don't behave like the Whites — Americans have social conscience.

Indian Express

31 pct of newly-elected MLAs have criminal cases: Study

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/31-pct-of-newlyelected-mlas-have-criminal-cases-study/793611/

Fri May 20 2011, 15:32 hrs New Delhi:

About 48 per cent of newly-elected MLAs of Kerala and 35 per cent of West Bengal have criminal cases pending against them, according to a study.

The analysis by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch has found out that 257 MLAs out of 820 (31 per cent) whose poll affidavits were analysed in the new assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have criminal cases against them.

A total of 133 MLAs out of the 257 have declared serious IPC charges like murder, attempt to murder, robbery and extortion in their affidavits. An Assam legislator even has charges of waging war against the government against him.

The West Bengal assembly has the highest number of MLAs with pending criminal cases (102) whereas Puducherry has lowest number of MLAs with pending criminal cases (9).

Percentage-wise, Kerala has 48 per cent MLAs with criminal cases, followed by West Bengal (35 per cent), Puducherry (30 per cent), Tamil Nadu (29 per cent) and Assam (10 per cent).


-- 
.Arun Khote
On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of "Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC")
...................................................................
Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre- PMARC has been initiated with the support from group of senior journalists, social activists, academics and intellectuals from Dalit and civil society to advocate and facilitate Dalits issues in the mainstream media. To create proper & adequate space with the Dalit perspective in the mainstream media national/ International on Dalit issues is primary objective of the PMARC. 

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