A Dalit woman sarpanch and her husband were attacked with an axe on June 8 in Kharesh village in Rajasthan’s Deedwana district while they were overseeing a road construction project under the MNREGA scheme.
The accused, Bhanwar Singh, allegedly believed that the road construction was encroaching upon his land. According to Deedwana SP Hanuman Prasad, “It was a land dispute. The road is being constructed near the house of accused Bhanwar Singh. He felt that his land was being encroached upon.”
Singh allegedly hurled caste-related abuses and chased the Dalit couple with an axe. A video of the incident shows several women trying to stop Singh and snatch the axe from his hands.
“The Dalit sarpanch and her husband were not seriously injured,” SP Prasad confirmed, The Observer Post reported. “We have registered a case under Sections 115 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 126 (wrongful restraint) of the Indian Justice Code as well as relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.”
Bhanwar Singh is currently absconding. Police say the case is under investigation.
The attack has sparked anger on social media and people are expressing disbelief over the deteriorating law and order situation in Rajasthan. Many have criticised the government and police for inaction.
Courtesy : Hindi News