The horrific incident of setting fire to Dalit homes has occurred in Nawada, Bihar. A total of 34 houses were burned. So far, 15 people have been arrested. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condemned the incident and directed the ADG (Law and Order) to monitor the investigation.
The fire incident in the Dalit colony occurred on September 18. This colony is located in the Manjhi Tola area. Initial investigations suggest a longstanding land dispute as the cause.
Police have arrested the main accused, Nandu Paswan, and 14 others. Seized items include 3 country-made pistols, 6 motorcycles, and several live cartridges.
Nawada DM Ashutosh Kumar Verma informed a news agency that 28 individuals were named in the case, of which 15 have been arrested.
Source: aajtak
What Has Been Discovered So Far?
DM Verma revealed that 34 houses were damaged in total, with 21 completely burned and 13 partially damaged.
The investigation found that the motive was a 29-year-old land dispute. Before setting the houses on fire, the accused fired shots in the air.
According to Verma, cases have been registered under the Arms Act and the SC-ST Act.
Nawada SP Abhinav Dhiman mentioned that the report of the fire in Manjhi Tola came around 7:15 PM on September 18. Firefighters were then dispatched to extinguish the blaze.
This is Neither the First Nor the Last Incident!
The motive for the Nawada incident is believed to be a land dispute. However, atrocities against Dalits occur daily across the country. From public beatings and barring entry to temples, to demeaning acts like forcing Dalit grooms off horses, such incidents remain prevalent despite decades of independence.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), over 150 cases of atrocities against Dalits are still reported daily.
NCRB data reveals that between 2018 and 2022, cases of violence against Dalits increased by 35%. Since 2018, the number of cases has consistently risen each year.
In 2018, there were 42,793 reported crimes against Dalits. By 2022, this number had surged to 57,582, with 50,900 cases reported in 2021 alone.
Source: aajtak
Where Are Atrocities Most Prevalent?
According to the NCRB, Uttar Pradesh tops the list with the highest number of atrocities against Dalits. In 2022, more than 15,000 such cases were registered in the state. Rajasthan followed with over 8,500 cases.
Statistics show that, on average, 12 Dalit women are raped daily. In 2022, there were 4,241 reported cases of rape against Dalit women, along with over 1,400 cases of rape against Dalit children.
The report indicates that every day, two to three Dalits are murdered. Incidents of humiliation and social ostracism against Dalits also frequently surface.
As for the conviction rate of such offenses, it stands at 34%. The conviction rate has been dropping for the past two years. In 2018, it was over 42%, declining to 36% in 2021 and 34% in 2022.
UP sees the highest number of such cases but also has the highest conviction rate at over 80%. In contrast, Rajasthan's conviction rate is less than 40%.
Source: aajtak
What Are the Laws Protecting Dalits?
In 1989, a law was established to protect Dalits and tribal populations, known as the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, commonly referred to as the SC-ST Act.
This law applies to any person who is not a part of the SC or ST communities but harasses people who belong to these communities.
The law aims to punish offenders who commit crimes against Dalits and tribal members, providing security and rights to these communities. Special courts are also constituted under this law to ensure swift justice.
In March 2018, the Supreme Court imposed restrictions on immediate arrests in cases registered under the SC-ST Act, stating that government employees could only be arrested with prior approval from an appropriate authority.
This decision drew significant backlash, leading the central government to amend the law. The Supreme Court later approved the revised legislation.
