Numerous people have been arrested and cases have been registered against 70 individuals in connection with abuse and assault on Dalits during the marriage procession of a Dalit couple. The incident occurred at Gorya village falling under Itwa police station of the Siddharthnagar district in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday evening when members of a ‘particular community’ started teasing and harassing some women participating in the procession.
When the women objected, the harassers reportedly attacked them. They further attacked those too who came to the rescue of the women. As per media reports, the goons assaulted them after entering their homes as well.
Police have arrested Mijaz, Thappu, Izhar, Nashir, Arshad, Altaf Hussain and Moh. Firoz and cases have been registered against them under sections 147, 148, 149, 307, 452, 323, 336, 504, 506, 427 of the Indian Penal Code. Itwa Police chief Anjani Kumar Rai said the rest of the accused will soon be arrested.
BJP MLA Dr Satish Dwivedi reached the spot and talked to the victims of the family and directed the authorities to ensure that the perpetrators do not escape justice. Raghavendra Pratap Singh, Dumriyaganj MLA, stated that there was a concerted attempt by members of the particular community to disturb the communal harmony of the place and demanded that compensation is immediately issued to the victims.
This incident is one of many instances of Muslim atrocities against Dalits. Only yesterday, reports had emerged of clashes between the two communities after Muslims opposed the funeral procession of Dalit woman through ‘their street’ in Tamil Nadu. Last year, reports had emerged of clashes between the two communities at Kalinagar area under Madhothanda Police Station, Pilibhit district, Uttar Pradesh after a Muslim man and his friends hurled casteist slurs at a Dalit man. Earlier in January, this year, a Dalit family had alleged that they were beaten up for refusing to convert to Islam and casteist slurs were hurled at them.
As per reports, a curfew is currently in place at the Gorya village where the incident occurred after communal clashes took place in the area. Propagators of Dalit-Muslim unity are yet to find their voice on the latest act of atrocity perpetrated on the Dalits by members of the Muslim community.