SIT appointed by SC begins fresh probe in Bhatla social boycott case

A Special Investigation Team (SIT), comprising two retired Directors General of Police (DGPs), has begun a fresh probe into an eight-year-old case involving the alleged social boycott of members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community by upper-caste residents in Bhatla village of Hisar district.

Formed on the directions of the Supreme Court, the four-member team includes retired DGPs Kamlendra Prasad and VC Goel, along with two retired Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs). The team arrived in the Hansi police district to initiate the reinvestigation.

Police sources confirmed that some members of the SIT visited Bhatla village on Wednesday to begin their inquiry. Several villagers were also summoned to Hansi town in connection with the case. While the SIT did not engage with mediapersons, they held discussions with local police and administrative officials to brief them on the investigation.

Advocate Rajat Kalsan, who has been pursuing the case, said, “The Supreme Court had constituted this Special Investigation Team (SIT) on October 16, following a hearing that highlighted flaws in the earlier probe.” He added that during another hearing held on March 25, Justices MM Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal reiterated the court’s directive for a reinvestigation and instructed the state government to provide full logistical support to the SIT.

The case dates back to 2017, when a dispute arose in Bhatla village over access to water from a tubewell. Members of the upper-caste community allegedly assaulted several Dalit youths. When Dalit families refused to settle or withdraw the complaints, some upper-caste villagers reportedly formed a “Bhaichara Committee” and announced a social boycott against the Dalits.

Following the incident, multiple cases were filed by the affected families. However, the earlier SIT held only one person — Chandar Fauji —accountable, while giving a clean chit to six others. Dissatisfied with that outcome, Advocate Kalsan approached the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe. The court instead opted to appoint a new SIT under the supervision of retired senior police officers.

DSP Ravinder Sangwan of Hansi confirmed the team’s presence and clarified, “The investigation team has arrived, but the local police are not part of the investigation.”

Haryana Tribune