Killing of Dalits: Village in grief, Haryana Chief Minister orders CBI probe

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  PTI

  Women block a road during a protest on Wednesday against the deadly assault on a Dalit family in Faridabad.
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  The Hindu

  Bodies of Dalit children kept on NH-2 as villagers protest demanding CBI inquiry into the Faridabad murder. Photo: Ashok Kumar
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  Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi interacting with the family members of the victims at Sunped village in Faridabad. Photo: @OfficeofRG

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India

Haryana

Residents block Delhi-Agra Highway to back four demands.

A day after four members of a Dalit family were set ablaze inside their house at Sunpedh village here, the Haryana government on Wednesday conceded all the four demands of the family, including a CBI probe into the incident.

In a late-evening announcement, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said his government had decided to order a CBI probe and provide a government job to Jitender, father of the two children who died in the attack.

Free treatment will be provided to Jitender’s wife Rekha, who is recuperating at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.

The village erupted in grief and indignation on Wednesday when the bodies of two-year-old Vaibhav and 10-month-old Divya, wrapped in white shrouds, arrived for cremation.

Wailing soon gave way to anger and scores of villagers, walking hand in hand and shouting slogans, carried the bodies and placed them on the Delhi-Agra Highway, blocking traffic. They protested for more than two hours in support of the four demands.

As villagers staged the protest, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment and Faridabad MP Krishan Pal Gurjar, reached Sun Perh village in the evening.

Mr. Gurjar met the family and apprised the villagers of the government’s decision to concede all their demands. The villagers then agreed to perform the last rites of the two children who died in the attack. “The government has conceded the demands and the family has agreed to cremate the bodies,” Mr. Gurjar told The Hindu.

Haryana DGP Y.P. Singal said the situation in the village was under control. “They tried to block the National Highway [in Faridabad], but we made them understand that this will put thousands of commuters to inconvenience. Then, they protested with the bodies on the outer road. After persuasion, they agreed to conduct the last rites,” he said.

One more accused, Sanjay, was arrested on Wednesday, taking the total number of arrests to four. The Chief Minister ordered the police to arrest the remaining seven accused at the earliest. “All efforts are being made to arrest the remaining accused. Their family members have been rounded up. Five Special Investigation Teams have been constituted under Deputy Commissioner of Police Puran Chand,” Faridabad Police Commissioner Subhash Yadav said.

Meanwhile, four more policemen have been suspended for grave misconduct in discharging their duties. On Tuesday, four policemen were suspended for dereliction of duty. A regular departmental inquiry has been initiated against all eight policemen. Those suspended include Sadar Ballabhgarh SHO, Inspector Anil Kumar, Assistant Sub-Inspectors Wali Mohammad, Hari Singh and Shri Bhagwan and constables Vikash, Sandeep, Satish and Ram Mehar.

Kalindi Kunj-Faridabad bypass blocked by Dalit families. Photo: Ashok Kumar