Bhatla boycott: State’s inadequate response led to formation of SC panel

A four-member team, appointed by the Supreme Court, has been in Hansi town to probe an eight-year-old case of social boycott of Dalit families at Bhatla village by the upper caste community. The team has collected the relevant documents from the police and is interacting with residents, from the victims’ side as well as those facing allegations. The team will submit its report to the SC.

Why was the four-member team appointed by the Supreme Court to visit the village?

The Supreme Court has appointed the four-member team to probe seven FIRs registered with the local police related to the social boycott of Scheduled Caste families and subsequent incidents of assaults on the victims on different occasions at the village.

Why were the Scheduled Caste families socially boycotted and who was responsible for it?

A clash between two groups of youths belonging to the upper caste and the Dalits took place at a hand pump located at a power substation in the village. Both groups had gone to fetch water where the upper caste youths stopped the Dalit youths from taking water and also abused them. The incident occurred on June 15, 2017. An FIR was registered with the police against the upper caste youths in the assault case under various sections of the SC/ST Act. Those belonging to the upper caste tried to pressure the complainants to withdraw the complaint. Tensions escalated when the complainants refused to take back the complaint.

What happened in the first FIR registered after the assault case in the village?

The police arrested three to four youths in the case and some of the accused were juvenile who were detained as per the juvenile law. But those belonging to the upper caste got upset with the Dalit families after the arrest of the youths and held several panchayats to resolve the case.

When did the incident of social boycott occur and what was its social implications?

When the SC youths (complainants) refused to withdraw the FIR, the social panchayat of the villagers comprising upper caste communities held a panchayat at the chaupal of the village and took the decision to socially boycott the Dalit families. The social boycott commenced on July 3, 2017 when the village chaukidar made an announcement across the village. 5The SC families alleged that they faced hardships, including restricted access to landless people in getting employment on the fields, restriction on availing essential services such as getting haircut at the barber shops and even the shops refused to give them groceries. They were also not allowed to socially interact with anyone. The boycott led to legal actions as an FIR was registered against those who attended the panchayat, including the husband of the then sarpanch Sudesh, Punit, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

How many FIRs were registered and what is the current status of the FIRs?

A total of seven FIRs were registered in the social boycott and assault cases under various sections of the SC/ST Act and other sections of the IPC against the upper caste youths. Some youths were arrested in different cases and the matter was pending in the courts at various stages.

How did the case reach the Supreme Court?

Dissatisfied with the progress and partiality of local investigations, members of the SC community approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking justice and police protection. Later, the SC families also approached the Supreme Court in 2019. The apex court, noting the seriousness of the allegations and the state’s inadequate response, mandated a fresh and independent investigation into the case and constituted the probe team of four members.

Who are the members of the probe panel?

The SC appointed team comprises retired DGPs Kamlendra Prasad, VC Goel and two retired DSPs. The local police are assisting the team in the probe.

The team members have visited the village, met a number of residents belonging to different communities and also visited the hand pump where the dispute over access to water took place. They have spoken to several persons belonging to the victims’ side and also those facing allegations in the process of getting their statements registered.

Haryana Tribune