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

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Chhattisgarh
him. A magisterial enquiry was ordered
into Mannu’s death. 16
On 18 November 2004, 17-year-old
Dalit, Suresh Shinde of Dhania village
allegedly died in police custody at
Takhatpur police station in Bilaspur
district. According to the police, the youth
committed suicide by consuming poison
inside the police station. But the family
members alleged that he was tortured to
death. Three serious wounds were
reportedly found on his body. Finding
them suspicious, a patrolling party of
Takhatpur had picked up Suresh Shinde
and his girlfriend Poonam Vishwakarma
and confined them at Gurunanak
Dharmashala. They had allegedly eloped
on 17 November 2004. Later the police
ordered the security guard of the
Dharmashala to bring them to the police
station. The police claimed that on the way
to the police station, Suresh Shinde
consumed poison. But the security guard
reportedly denied this. 17
On 3 April 2004, 35-year-old Chaitu
Ram of Takilodha village of Dantewara
district was allegedly gang raped and then
killed by the police in Bastar. The police
later claimed that she was a Naxalite.
Some villagers were reportedly
eyewitnesses to the gang rape in custody. 18
III. Atrocities against the Dalits
Dalits are subjected to torture,
humiliation, attacks and social boycott.
Government’s inaction and apathy have
further aggravated their plight.
On 16 August 2004, the inhabitants of
two Satnami (Dalits who are followers of
spiritual leader Guru Ghasidas) bastis in
Gumka village in Durg district were
attacked by a huge mob of the upper caste
Hindus and non-Dalits of the same village
because they had wanted the Hindus to
participate in their festival as had been the
tradition. While men were beaten
mercilessly women were disrobed and
humiliated. Even the cattles were not
spared. 19
A fact-finding team of the Dalit
Study Circle and Chhattisgarh Satnami
Samaj stated that at around 7 a.m. on 16
August 2004 about 800 upper caste
Hindus of Gumka village attacked the
two Satnami bastis injuring more than
150 people including 35-40 women.
Women were dragged out while their
clothes were either torn or disrobed off.
According to Godawari who had
survived with severe injuries on thigh
and back, “it was an attack all of a
sudden. We couldn’t even realise that
what is happening to us. While I was
dragged I saw my mother-in-law and my
daughter also being pulled out in the
same way. And they beat us. They had
torn all our cloths and began molestation
with all using abusive language against
our caste and women”. 20
Earlier the Dalits of the two localities
in the upper caste dominated Gumka
village had been subjected to social
boycott. They were not allowed to fetch
water from the village well. They were
harassed in the name of caste. Tension
between Dalits and non-Dalits had
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