Caste Hindus attack dalit in Una. Police watches..

Caste Hindus attack dalit in Una. Police watches..

Dalit Camera’s team has been at Una Police Station since afternoon. The Una victim families, Balubai Sarvaiyya and others who feel threatened want police to escort them back to their villages after violence broke out on the highway today morning. Two cars have been burnt, vehicles are being stoned, roads are blocked. They also want police to put up a post in their villages. But the police is keeping mum. The families continue to agitate in whatever ways they can to express their anguish but the police is clearly indifferent. The Yatra came to an end today on a high note but how much has anything changed?

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Yesterday there was a brutal attack: Please read the full story in the website.

Dalit Asmita Yatra was blocked ahead of Samter village. Dominant castes Darbars dare Dalits to go past them. When the Dalit Camera and Two Circles’ team reached, they weren’t allowed to head forward. Their phones were almost snatched off. Dominant caste rage and pride is at an all time high. The Darbars are threatening and attacking the participants. Dalit Camera’s reporter Greeshama Rai and Two Circle’s reporter Amit Kumar were also attacked. Their bike was pushed off the road, luckily they have escaped with no major injuries. However the threat of violence against the local Dalits and those participating in the #ChaloUna march is very high.

This is happening just few kilometers away from Una, the town where gaurakshaks tied up dalits who were skinning the dead carcass of a cow to a pole and beat them up brutally alleging beef consumption. This incident sparked off massive protests across the State also leading to the formation of the the Una Dalit Atyachar Ladat Samiti, a coalition to seek justice for the victims of the caste brutality at Una. The Samiti organised the Dalit Mahasammelan, a show of strength condemning growing Dalit atrocities in Gujarat on July 31st at Ahmedabad which saw a turnout of more than 20,000 dalits from across the State. Shortly after, the Dalit Asmita Yatra, a foot march from Ahmedabad to Una was flagged off demanding justice for the victims of the Una caste brutality. During the course of the Yatra which is ongoing, pledges have been taken in more than 25 villages to give up the traditional caste based occupations of skinning or disposing cattle and cleaning sewer lines. Two days ahead of the culmination of the Dalit Asmita Yatra at Una, the local dominant and uppercaste communities seem to be charging up their ammunition to attack at the shortest notice. Irrespective, Subodh Parmar of the Una Dalit Atyachar Ladat Samiti while condemning this attack on the Dalit community told DC with absolute conviction that they are undeterred. “The Dalit Asmita Yatra will continue and end in a public meeting at Una as planned. It is on the police and the administration to ensure that adequate arrangements are made for our protection.”

Below is the transcription of an interview Dalit Camera did with one of the Gau-Rakshaks.

With Regards

B. Ravichandran 

Jai Bhim