annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Andhra Pradesh
On 4 February 2004, seven Dalits of
Kistayepalem under Mangalagiri Mandal
in Guntur District were reportedly injured
after being attacked by caste-Hindus of
Mandadam under Tulluru mandal. They
were reportedly attacked for refusing to
accept 25 paise coins by the bus conductor,
Epuri Ramarao who was a Dalit. The upper
caste youths reportedly alerted their
relatives through mobile phones and told
them that the Dalits of Kistayapalem
attacked them. A gang of upper caste
youths reached Kishtayapalem hemlet on
two-wheelers and attacked the Dalits with
sticks and chains and injured seven Dalits. 37
The segregation continued even in
public places such as schools. In a
government primary school at Kontur in
Medak district of Andhra Pradesh, 38 of
the 46 students who were supposed to stay
for mid day meal reportedly leave the
school without touching the food as it was
cooked by two Dalit women. Only 14
Dalit students eat at the school. 38
The Dalits were also deprived of
ownership of lands. Between 1948 and
1970, the abolition of the Estates Act, the
Enam Abolition Act and the Telangana
Tenancy Act effectively transferred the
control of over 349 lakh acres to farmers
and tillers. But only 0.5 per cent of these
lands have reportedly reached the hands of
the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Despite being issued pattas (title deeds)
later on, most lands were never handed over
to the Dalits. 39
To protest against the failure of the
district administration to restore their
cultivable lands in Chinnaganjam mandal
of Prakasam district, two Dalit women -
Mark Rani and M Yashoda reportedly
attempted to commit suicide at the District
Collector’s office compound in Ongole on
14 September 2004. Rani, who was rushed
to the Ongole government hospital died in
the early hours of 15 September 2004. 40
In July 2004, six Dalit youths namely
Vadlamudi Samson, Pasumarthi
Rajanikanth, Nattala Anjaneyulu, Chundi
Babu-Rao, Nattala Hanumantha Rao and
Nattala Anil of Vengamukkalapalem
village in Ongole Mandal of Prakasam
district reportedly attempted suicide by
consuming pesticide in front of the District
Collector, Ongole. The six were
immediately shifted to the government
hospital. Hanumantha Rao died while
undergoing treatment. In 1987, the
government had distributed about 30 acres
of land to the Dalits in Survey No 122/10
and 122/12 in Vengamukkala palem.
When they did not utilise these lands, the
government after giving notification,
cancelled the orders over the distribution
of lands. The Dalits were demanding that
these lands be allotted to them again. 41
On 16 December 2004, Garnepudi
Nageswara Rao, a Dalit, died of starvation
following ex-communication of the Dalits
in the village of Pedamakkena in
Sattenapalli Mandal, Guntur district. The
caste Hindus announced a social boycott
of the Dalits through mikes and enforced it
strictly imposing penalty of Rs 500 on
those who violate the order. Instead of
hiring the Dalit labourers in Pedamakkena,
7