11 accused, who set Dalit houses on fire, acquitted
Bhartesh Singh Thakur, Hindustan Times
Panchkula, January 16, 2012
First Published: 20:50 IST(16/1/2012)
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) failed to prove its case in
Gohana rioting incedent in which about 50 Dalit houses were set ablaze
in Sonipat district on August 31, 2005.
CBI special judge, Haryana, AS Narang, acquitted 11 accused in the
case on Monday, including son of former
Sonipat MP Krishan Sangwan.There were 14 accused in the case but
Master Karan Singh, Mahipal and Khushi Ram died during the trial. They
were accused of rioting, being a part of unlawful assembly, giving
provocative speeches, and while being armed with sticks and
agricultural implements which could cause death they put houses of
Balmikis on fire.
In September, 2005, the case was handed over to CBI and it registered
it on September 9,
2005.http://www.hindustantimes.com/Images/HTEditImages/Images/17-01-12-metro13.jpg
All the witnesses turned hostile in the court. No one identified any
of the accused in the court. One of the prosecution witnesses head
constable Jagbir Singh simply deposed that he was guarding the
official vehicle of SHO and he had not seen any of the accused present
in the court near Samta Chowk or in Balmiki Basti on August 31, 2005.
Balwan Singh, who was then Naib Tehsildar and had visited Satsang
Bhawan of Gohana where a meeting of Jat leaders were going on, stated
in the court that he could not say whether the accused were part of
the crowd. Mahender Singh Kundu was also declared hostile as he denied
his earlier statement given to CBI. Ram Phal has also not supported
the case of prosecution. As per the judgment, Sub Inspector Sat Pal
had simply registered the FIR and AGL Kaul, who was IO of the case of
the CBI, had not deposed anything against the accused. When the houses
were put on fire, the Dalits had already fled by that time so there
was no witness among them.
The judgment also pointed out that the CBI case was only related to
happenings of August 31, 2005. It read, "I have considered all the
evidence on the record. I am of the considered view that there is no
sufficient evidence to hold any of the accused guilty. Accordingly,
all the accused are hereby acquitted of the charges for which they
have been charged."
After coming out of the court, Pradeep Sangwan told HT, "It was a
politically motivated case. My father was a sitting Sonipat MP at that
time that was why I was framed. I hope this judgment will give a boost
to our political career."
The case:
Baljit Siwach, a Jat and resident of Gharwal village of Gohana tehsil,
was murdered on August 27, 2005. Lara, Shiv Kumar, Bhola and Viru-all
Balmikis were booked in the case. As the police were failing to arrest
the accused, there was massive discontent and hatred among the Jat
community in and around Gohana town.
On August 28, 2005, the body of Baljit was brought and cremated the
same day. A meeting of village elders took place on August 29, 2005 at
Bari Chopal of Gharwal. A group of youngsters were agitated and they
wanted to take revenge on Dalits. On August 30, 2005, Barha Panchayat
(comprising 12 villages) assembled and the main speakers were Bhola
Ram, Zile Singh ( now dead), Dalbir Singh, Master Karan Singh ( now
dead), Nafe Singh and Pardeep Sangwan. In the meeting, everyone was
angry and speaking against Balmikis.
Though elders wanted to adopt democratic means but there were some
elements who wanted to take violent revenge. An announcement was made
that 55 eminent persons would gather the next day at Satsang Bhawan,
Gohana, to adopt future course of action. On August 31, 2005,
provocative speeches were allegedly delivered at the Satsang Bhawan.
Even Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda offered to meet Jat leader.
Zile Singh (now dead) allegedly gave the call to burn down the Balmiki
Basti as a Jat boy was brutally murdered-"Phunk Do Is Basti Ko". Soon
after it, the young people there starting raising slogans. At around
12:30 pm at Samta Chowk a crowd started moving towards the Basti along
with sticks and agriculture weapons. The crowd had swelled to
1500-1600. They entered the Dalits' residential area from different
sides. They used abusive language against Dalits too. They put on
about 50 houses on fire and damaged them. Balmikis had already fled
from the scene so there was no human casualty.
List of accused:
* Dalbir Singh
* Rajesh Kumar
* Radhey Shyam
* Rajender Singh
* Pardeep Sangwan
* Bhola Ram
* Lahna Singh
* Manoj Kumar
* Ramesh Kancha
* Balbir Singh
* Nafe Singh
------------------------------------
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/
PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com
TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/
Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
No comments:
Post a Comment