Verdict will set bad precedent: Dalit leaders on Khairlanji verdict
Neeta Kolhatkar / DNA
Thursday, July 15, 2010 0:43 IST
Mumbai: Dalit leaders have reacted sharply to the Bombay high court's
decision to reduce the punishment awarded to the six convicts in the
Khairlanji massacre.
"The reversing of the death penalty and not considering the case under
the atrocities act is absolutely unjust," said Bhalchandra Mungekar in
a written note. "The ruling will encourage the perpetrators of the
crime and this would render the act meaningless."
Renowned American-born Indian scholar and Dalit activist Gail Omvedt
told DNA that the verdict was proof that special Indian courts should
tackle cases of atrocities separately. "Most of the courts in India
are not sensitive to instances of atrocities on Dalits, women and
other minorities. There is a need for reservation of courts to tackle
these issues. Here was a case where a Dalit family was massacred by
members of the upper caste, and yet the verdict was not just," said
Omvedt.
The popular perception is that the police aren't open to filing
complaints under the atrocities act. In fact, after the massacre, it
came to light that the district committee which should have been set
up in Bhandara to assess the complaints filed by Bhotmanges, never
existed.
Opposition members say that even after this incident, the state
machinery is not in place. "Look at the facts before the massacre and
thereafter," said Neelam Gorhey, spokesperson of Shiv Sena.
"The local district and state machinery was not in place. Bhotmanges
only hadthe atrocities act as their means of support, but the police
refused to lodge a complaint. This was before the killings."
Gorhey said the incident reflected on the political insensitivity,
violation of human rights and the deprivation of right to live.
According to academicians, the court's verdict would send out a wrong
message to society. "Dalits are bound to feel isolated with such a
verdict," said Surendra Zondhale, head of political science
department, Mumbai University.
"They have no political representation and the government has let them
down every time. Their only hope had been the judiciary, but this
verdict has dashed all their hopes for justice."
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