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Khairlanji Massacre: Charter of Demands from the Citizens

The Khairlanji Massacre of 2006 brought out ugly facts of the caste based discrimination and violence. During the trial the caste angle was brought into the notice of the Honourable Judge. The Khairlanji massacre is the straightforward and clear case of caste atrocity. There are special provisions under the Prevention of Atrocities Act. This act is not supposed to act as a safeguard but enforces the constitutional mandate abolition of untouchability. Four members of the Bhotmange Family were brutally killed, but what happened before the killings will even put the barbarians in shame. It was the maniac mob that stripped the women naked and paraded them. Though the honourable court has ruled out the molestation of women, the simple fact that the bodies were found naked should be enough to attract the provisions of outraging the modesty of mother and her only daughter.

Priyanka, the brightest child, had a dream to live a better world and her dream was shattered by the caste minded people. The murder of the family by the mob is not just a murder, but it is plot masterminded and preplanned. The fact that the murders did not take place due to forced circumstances, but by the preplanning should be suffice enough to show that there was some underlying intention. The underlying intention became obvious when the perpetrators heaped caste abuse when the most horrific incidence that sent shock waves throughout India and the world.

What followed after the incidence is a classic case of defunct Police administration, corrupt politicians & government officials colluding together and utter silence of the media in the beginning. The justice machine moved only when the activists and civil society responded. The media not only intervened positively afterwards, but the debates and discussion on the atrocities and caste discrimination began on the national level. This is a very positive development and the highest official, the Prime Minister, acknowledged the fact of the hidden apartheid in India.

And what was done by the civil right activists, media and conscious citizens of India was undone by the Judicial inactivism. The Khairlanji Massacre case should not only have made Judiciary more active, but also proactive role in safegurading the rights of the discriminated communities in India. The Parliament have made laws to protect the discriminated communities and the Judiciary is unmaking those laws.
The common citizens of India have right not only to condemn the laws which takes away their human rights, which are the foundation of our country, but they have also right to defend the rights that are flowing from the Constitution of India. In India, the constitution is supreme and the Judiciary must act in accordance with the law of the land.

We, the undersigned members of Indian Republic, are outraged to learn that caste Hindus, through their predecessors in interest in power, played a role in perpetuating enslavement and untouchability of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes for 3000 years.

According to various reports of government of India and other research many Caste Hindus are accused of benefiting from: propagating untouchability, torturing Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe to keep them enslaved, stealing their labor, raping their women, and treating them like inhuman. All of this was done for social-economic and political gain of caste Hindus.

The protective actions on part of government are insufficient to ensure justice and human treatment of SC/ST community in free India. We expect strong and sincere efforts by the government in power for establishing justice, liberty, equality, and freedom to all its citizen. We believe that all citizen of Indian Nation are equal before law and before government. India is boasting high about its economic boom and also periodically we stand as a nation for the rights of humanity and peace. Eg. Recent protest against China saying they are violating the rights of Tibetans, but what about our own people who are treated less than animal in the free country.

Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe population is still struggling to overcome the vestiges of caste — discrimination in housing, employment, education, economic development opportunities, and healthcare opportunities, to name a few.

The caste pride, social-economic status of few people is valued at the cost of killing, raping, and trafficking Scheduled Caste/Tribes women, men and children. We demand that India as nation and Maharashtra State has to take up responsibility for historical crimes against humanity.

We urge that strong and immediate action must be taken with public apology for crime of caste and untouchability. In addition we as a citizen of this country demand reparation for this age old slavery and untouchability.
Demands:

Police:
- Representation of SC/ST officer- preferably women SC/ST officer with good record must be placed at each police station that is empowered to register the case under SC/ST POA Act 1989.
- Equal representation of SC/ST on each Police officers rank.
- 1/3 of the police higher administration must represent SC/ST officers and they must not be transferred on random basis.
- Every forth subsequent state DGP must be from SC/ST community
- According to Supreme Court apex directive on police reform, each state must set up State Security Commission. The State Security Commission will be chaired by the state Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister with a Director General of Police as its secretary. A leader of Opposition as well as a woman and another non- government member will also serve on the panel. Two third of the member of the commission must be from SC/ST communities.

Judiciary

Representation of SC/ST judges and lawyers in public prosecution
The cases where Caste based violence and or violence/crime against SC/ST occurs must be tabled before judges bench with adequate representation of SC/ST.

Doctors

Qualified and independent doctors preferably women from SC/ST community
Regular training

As form of reparation and restitution of 3000 years old untouchability against SC population, Government of Maharashtra/Government of India must apologize and a Comprehensive decent Urban resettlement must be planned of the rural SC population who are under threat or vulnerable to the attacks from caste Hindus. SC ST POA ACT- must be strengthened with comprehensive amendments to include all above points Responsible Media Establishment of Caste Monitoring Commission (unlike SC ST commission) with substantial powers to initiate, monitor, research, and coordinate welfare projects, violent/non violent atrocity cases, anti-discrimination policies in rural/urban labor & employment issues, and other issues related to violation of human rights of SC/ST. District level participatory committee of government and dedicated NGOs lead by SC/ST communities

These NGOs must be engaged at city-village level administrative and municipal activities/projects

Establishment of 24 hours toll free help line for antidiscrimination acts with strong linkages to the caste monitoring commission. Periodic Comprehensive Need based Training program in coordination with dedicated SC/ST lead NGOs for doctors, police, judicial officers, media personnel, government executives , and for all other concerned machineries. Special budget allocation for all above activities along with transparency with NGOs/peoples representatives

We also demand that the following Recommendations from Government of Maharashtra Report after the Khairlanji Massacre should be complied with:

i) Adequate police protection should be immediately provided to Shri Bhaiyalal Bhotmange, Shri Siddharth Gajbhiye, Shri Rajan Gajbhiye, their relatives and the other Scheduled Caste families of Khairlanji and Dusala villages.

ii) Similar police protection be provided to all the witnesses of the incident.
iii) In view of a serious neglect of duty by the district administration and police in handling the Khairlanji incidence, and consequent loss of people's trust in the State machinery, the CBI investigation should be started immediately, and a charge sheet be filled within stipulated time period.
iv) A charge-sheet be filed within the stipulated time pried. The aspect of deliberated destruction/omission of evidence should be specifically looked into by the investigating agency, and accordingly investigation should be carried out and charges should be fixed on the concerned.
v) It is not enough to merely transfer / suspend the officers guilty of neglect of duty in handling the incident. Such officers should be made co- accused in the criminal proceedings, and an enquiry should also be initiated against them under the Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989. The officers found guilty should be denied all service benefits including pension, gratuity, etc.
vi) The medical registration and qualifications of the medical officers including Civil Surgeon who have committed serious neglect in the post-mortem of Khairlanji victims should be immediately cancelled, and Bhotmange Waiting for Justice they should be subjected to similar penal procedure as the other officers guilty of neglect of duty.
vii) Shri Pankaj Gupta, Special Inspector General of Police, Nagpur has made a premature and irresponsible public statement that the Khairlanji incident did not involve rape on female victims. It is learnt from the public that Shri Pankaj Gupta accepted a bribe from the interested elements to make such a statement. Similarly, it took 14 days for Shri Gupta to visit Khairlanji, which takes just about an hour's journey to reach from Nagpur. All these matters are extremely serious and hence a discrete confidential enquiry should be initiated against Shri Pankaj Gupta in order to investigate the above matters.
viii) A special investigation into the sequence of events including landline and mobile phone calls made, secrete meetings held in and out of the village prior to the incident especially between September, 3 and September, 29 should be conducted with a view to uncover the roots of an organized conspiracy to allow the Khairlanji massacre.
ix) The Government should make it mandatory for the concerned Superintendent of Police and Special Inspector General of Police (Range) as well as Inspector General of Police (PCR) to visit every location of atrocities within 24 hours of incident, and report directly to the Home Department on the visit. The Director General of Police should also visit the location depending on the gravity of the incident.
x) Even after handing over of investigation to CBI nothing prevents the Director General of Police from visiting Khairlanji. This will send the right signal to the police machinery across the State at all levels, and will ensure proper assistance of Police Department to CBI in further investigation. xi) The decision of handing over the Khairlanji investigation to CID and subsequently to CBI was taken at the highest levels of State Government only in the wake of pressing demands and violent demonstrations by Buddhists and Dalits to this effect. Ideally, the State Government should have proactively established a dialogue with all the important stakeholders in this matter, and initiated the necessary response suo moto. Such proactive measures need to be taken at the Government level even now.
xii) The Vigilance Committee at the State level must meet once in a quarter to constantly review the status of atrocities and should regularly take the appropriate corrective measures. Similarly, the district level Vigilance Committee must meet every month.
xiii) Khairlanji incident triggered a lot of social commotion and protests. Many a protestors have been taken into custody and are subjected to further proceedings. The provisions under which they have been booked should be examined by an independent authority, and fast track courts be established for deciding these cases.
xiv) Henceforth, if atrocities indicate the possibility of sexual assault and rape then the following care should be taken while conducting post- mortem :
a. The post-mortem must be done by a sufficiently senior, qualified and experienced doctor along with a lady doctor;
b. Careful examination of genitals of victim along with proper samples of Vaginal Swab, Rectal Swab, Pubic Hair, Nail Clippings of both hands, Blood, etc., be carried out in presence of a qualified lady witness. The samples should be sealed in presence of the lady witness. c. Photographs of the naked bodies of victims should be taken for further reference during investigations as the bodies decompose and perish rapidly.
v) A Mobile Investigation Van fully equipped with life-saving devices, medicines, and trained doctors and nurses along with senior police personnel should be dispatched to the concerned location within two hours of reporting of an atrocity.
vi) A Standing Committee at the Divisional Level consisting of medico- legal experts, retired judges, retired police officers with proven integrity and character, NGOs, etc., should be constituted to oversee all the aspects of investigation including collection of evidences and witnesses, preparation of charge-sheets, presentation of the case by public prosecutor, etc.
vii) The Government should immediately cause to undertake through a neutral agency a survey of all the villages in the State to identify / detect villages observing untouchability in any form. In order to ensure that no village henceforth indulges in discrimination against Dalits in any form, a policy decision
needs to be taken at the Government level that any village observing untouchability in any form shoud not be given any grant by the Government. The Village Panchayat body should be immediately superceded after the incident. The Member of Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti from the concerned area will be suspended immediately after the preliminary investigation establishes commission of offence.
viii) In case of reporting of discrimination or atrocities in a village, the village level / local level administrative functionaries such as Talathi, Health Worker, Anganwadi Worker, Gramsevak, Police Sub Inspector, Police Patil, Beat Constable, etc., should also be suspended immediately.
The action taken on the elected representatives and officials should be widely announced and publicized to send the right signal to the State machinery. The survey should also identify villages with a very small number of Dalit households (within five) and a history of atrocities / communal tensions. The Dalit families from all such village should be rehabilitated along urban fringes with proper provision of schools, water supply, playgrounds and such other amenities as per the State Rehabilitation Law and Policy. Bhandara district can be the starting point for this exercise to be carried out under the Special Component Plan. All disputes around Dalit lands, properties, wages, jobs, loans, etc.,should be proactively tracked and monitored personally by Tehsildar /Sub-divisional Officer under supervision of Collector, and necessarypreventive measures should be taken to prevent the culmination of such disputes into atrocities. Special Dalit-Vasti-Registers should be maintained for all Dalit settlements across the State, and a system of GIS-based monitoring of such settlements should be evolved and made available at all the Deserted Hut Collectorates. The Registers should be regularly updated every six months.
iii) Dalit-Vasti-Registers should also include data on a set of objective indicators reflecting latent conditions for atrocities in a village, thus serving as an 'Early Warning System' for taking preventive / preemptive action against a possible outbreak of atrocities. The data should be collected by NGOs or such other stakeholders not part of the formal administration system. However, once the data is in place the administration should be held responsible for the necessary vigilance and preventive steps.
iv) Relevant sections of CRPC should be invoked and amended suitably if required, to fix the responsibility of reporting of atrocities / indications of possible atrocities in concerned jurisdictions on the elected representatives such as Sarpanch / Panchayat members, Municipal Councilors, etc. In case the atrocities break out then these non-officials should be held responsible for their failure in early reporting.
v) A 24-hour help-line should be started with the help of NGOs in each district to facilitate emergency response to the incidents of atrocities so as to prevent and minimize the loss of life, property and dignity of the vulnerable section of the society. A special scheme in this regard should be designed and implemented though the Social Welfare Department and Human Rights Commission with the participation of suitable agencies. Bhotmange's Hut Surrounding xxvi) A Handbook on Atrocities containing detailed guidelines on the corrective and preventive actions to be taken by the concerned authorities under the PoA, Act, 1989 be prepared and issued by the Government for ready reference of the administration machinery.
xxvii) A special Committee should be constituted to evaluate the status of implementation of PoA Act, 1989 in the State of Maharashtra, and possible areas of amendment of the Act (if any) be identified and acted upon by the Government.
xxviii) The Committee should also focus on the long-standing issue of 'Low Rate of Conviction' in the cases of atrocities. The necessary action to set up Special Courts as provided in the PoA Act should be taken immediately.
xxix) Atrocities against SC / ST are often more heinous than terrorist acts. Further, atrocities are often a deliberate and planned way of terrorizing the SC / ST populations, which constitute about 22% of the total national population, i.e., about 250 million persons. Hence atrocities should be viewed and dealt with on par with terrorism. Provisions of stringent Acts to control organized crime such as POTA, etc., may be extended to such atrocities.
xxx) The Section 4 of PoA Act, 1989 should be made cognizable.
xxxi) As per Section13 (2) of PoA Act, 1989 adequate representation of SC /ST should be ensured in the police force.
xxxii) The Nodal Officer under PoA Act, 1989 should be further empowered, and should be provided with definite execution machinery for effectively delivering his responsibilities. The Nodal Officer should also be authorized to write on a plane sheet of paper the confidential reports of the Collector, Superintendent of Police, Special Inspector General of Police (Range) and Inspector General of Police (PCR), which would ultimately be a part of their Annual Confidential Report.

xxxiii) A State-wide campaign of training should be initiated for all concerned authorities, functionaries and other stakeholders on the issue of atrocities, and the corrective-preventive measures to be taken in
coordination by all of them. This exercise should be taken up by the Social Welfare Department immediately.
xxxiv) Similarly, a State-wide awareness campaign should be initiated to sensitize the public at large about the issue of atrocities. An effective use of television, radio, print media, cable networks, e-mail / internet, etc., be made to disseminate the public messages on this issue. A clear message should be sent through media that the villages / groups / persons committing atrocities on SC / ST will be dealt with very severely.
xxxv) A special section on atrocities should be included in the school curriculum and text-books under history / civics / social service, etc, and accordingly the teachers also should be given a special training on Equity and Social Justice issues.

xxxvi) A State Action Plan for eradication of atrocities should be prepared and announced by the State Government through participation of NGOs, activists, social workers, legal-constitutional experts, government and private agencies, etc. A social movement towards achieving social justice and solidarity should be initiated through participation of NGOs and civil society organizations. Through such a movement cutting across all sections of society a common forum such as 'Samajik Samata Sangh' could be created for addressing the social evils such as untouchability, discrimination and atrocities.

Visit http://atrocitynews.wordpress.com/ Forwarded By Pradip Bansode and M S Bahal

ATROCITIES AND SOCIAL BOYCOTT
OF DALITS IN PUNJAB

S. L. Virdi Advocate

There are discriminated people all over the world but no any where on this earth the natives now known as Dalits, the sons of their own soil, have been treated as animals continuously for thousands years under the social system called Varna System. The system is now popularly known as caste system.

In India, 350 millions of people officially termed and called Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes now called Dalits are being treated inhumanly, discriminated against and oppressed relentlessly by various modes and methods.

If Dalits try to enjoy the constitutional rights to improve their life, they are brutally killed, their women are raped, children are slaughtered, wells are poisoned, and their dwellings are burned collectively. One Lakh cases of atrocities are reported in the police stations every year and almost equal number of atrocities is not reported and recorded. During last 60 years about One Lakh people have been killed by the upper caste people due to castism.

Punjab is not very much behind in committing atrocities and following the practice of untouchability. In Tur village of the Tarn Taran District, the Dalits are facing social boycott by the Landlords for the past ten days. Trouble started when a Dalit woman Charanjit Kaur with her relative (Kurmani) Swarn Kaur had gone to the fields for answering the call of nature (excreta). A Landlord's son misbehaved them. The matter was reported to Police, which booked the boy, in retaliation, the Landlord imposed the social boycott on Dalits. Situation in the village is tense, but the Police is strictly watching.

On 19th August in village Faridpur of District Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab, four Dalit girls were forced to pick up their own nature soil (excreta) with their hands and were victimized by the landlords.

DALIT STUDENT LOST HIS VISION

FOR DEMANDING MORE FOOD IN BIHAR

A Dalit Navin Kumar Paswan, student of fourth class, Government School, Aujapauchha of District Purnea in Bihar, lost his one eye after headmaster and master beating him up mercilessly for simply demanding more food during Mid-Day Meal Scheme run by the WHO, Agency of the UNO.

POSTED ON AUGUST 27, 2007

We are sharing some of the photographs taken during these days at Mohammadabad.

SCAVENGER GIRLS OF MOHAMMDABAD,
GHAZIPUR (UTTAR-PRADESH)

V. B. RAWAT

I have just returned from a long trip from Eastern Uttar-Pradesh. On 15th of August, this year, at Mohammdabad, we honored the two young girls from scavenger community who stood first in their board examinations of 10th and 12th. We had promised to give them a bicycle each if they score good marks. The two of them worked hard. To instigate the other girls and boys in the community to work harder, a meeting was organized with the parents of the girls and other elders from the community.

Social Development Foundation's local centre in Mohammdabad has become ray of hope for not only the scavenger and Dalit girls but also for the Muslims girls who come and learn sewing. A two days workshop in developing humanist leadership among Dalit youth was also organized in Mohammdabad.

We would like to thank each one of our individual donors who supported the cause of the Dalit girls and hope they would continue do so. I will be sending a detailed note to our friends soon on the outcome of our scholarship scheme. We are happy to inform you that apart from sewing, we have decided to start a computer learning programme at our centre and are in the process of getting another computer so that the girls can learn computer skills. Apart from that we also intend to start designing, jardoi work also.

The process has been difficult as this is really a constructing work and the community is appreciating it but individual donations are tough thing to collect. We will be releasing the list of individuals who donated last year and our expense sheet for the same.

This year we plan to provide scholarship to 15 girls & already 40 girls are learning sewing free of cost. Now as our computer centre will start functioning in next two months, we expect more enrollments for the same.

POSTED ON AUGUST 24, 2007

DALITS AFTER 60 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE OF INDIA
Dalit girls forced to pick up their own excreta in Punjab

Phagwara:- On 19th August in village Faridpur, 30 km. from Patiala District in Punjab, four dalit girls were forced to pick up their own excreta with their hands and were victimised by the landlords. The girls had gone to the nature soil in the fields. The owner of the field not only insulted them but forced them to pick up the excreta.

The Local Dalits protested against the inhuman behaviour but police failed to take action against the land lords accused.

The Constitution of India in its article 46 casts a duty on the state to protect Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes from social injustice and all forms of exploitation. How far has the state been able to protect them?. The state government failed to check atrocities on Dalits in Punjab. Atrocities on Dalits are due to Casteism. There have been innumerable and persistent atrocities on Dalits even after the 60 years of Independence of India.

S. L. Virdi, Advocate, (Phagwara, Punjab.)

POSTED ON AUGUST 22, 2007

SPECIAL THANKS TO
SHRI GURU RAVI DASS SABHA OF NEW YORK

Our special thanks to Shri Guru Ravidas Sabha New York and to all Punjabis who took first historic step to highlight Baba Sahib Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in India 's 60th Independence Day Parade in New York .

NRI Punjabis have played a lead role in spreading and promoting Baba Sahib Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's mission around the world for over fifty years. They have always offered their services and finances voluntarily for the community support.

I must mention here that the main organizers and financers of Baba Sahib's float were our Punjabi brothers and sisters of New York along with other Indians. We extend our support from around the world to encourage them to do more such historic events.

We are proud of our community members who dedicate their time and money to spread Baba Sahib's Mission of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. Today, we are proud of all who organized Baba Sahib's float for the parade. Our special thanks to Shri Guru Ravidas Sabha and all Punjabi brothers and sisters for their support and financial help that made it happen.

Also, we appreciate AMBEDKARTIMES.COM for posting beautiful pictures of the float.

Yours, in mission,
Raj Kumar Oshoraj
Indian Buddhist Society Toronto, Canada

POSTED ON AUGUST 24, 2007

AMBEDKAR FLOAT ON INDIA DAY PARADE IN NEW YORK

RAJU KAMBLE

This is first time in New York, Ambedkar float is being put in the India Day Parade in New York. The India Day parade is on Sunday, the 19 August 2007. This is a good occasion for all of us around New York City to show solidarity and show of our strength. The Parade will start at 9.00 A.M. Our float is something like 45 ft. Our friends in New York are working very hard on getting real big size portraits of Babasaheb.

The idea was muted quite late and then to get the permission to be part of the procession was not all that easy. Hence it took lot of time to fix all these things. The entry fee into the procession is US$ 3500; which is already been paid of by the Ambedkarites in New York.

So, please join us one and all. I guess our people right up to Virginia in the south and up to Boston in the North/East should make an attempt to be part of this parade with their families.

Our Punjabi friends are hiring a bus to facilitate participation of our people from Queens’s area in New York. The parade starts at 41st street in Madison Square and goes up to 23rd Street. This is a first time ever for all of us and hence i too, cannot resist from not participating in it and hence will definitely show up in New York.

Quite a few of us are working on putting together the posters, banners and the handouts for distribution. So, see you all in New York on Sunday, 19 August 2007.

For more in-details, please contact: Raju kamble (Canada) 403-615-4590

Posted on August 13, 2007

Sangat is humbly requested to participate in this great function and pay their respect to this prominent leader. Langer Sewa for this celebration will be provided by dedicated workers of BAMCEF.

SHAHEED BHAGAT SINGH,
RAJGURU, AND SUKHDEV REMEMBERED
By Chetna Association of Canada

Saturday, 21st March, 2009 (10:00 to 16:30 hrs)
Conference Theatre, Saturn Facilities, 101 Lockhurst Lane , Coventry , CV6 5SF

November 01, 2008 (Saturday)
AIOBC, KUDUMBA VIZHA (FAMILY GET-TOGETHER)
PERIYAR 130 - ANNA 100 BIRTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

All are invited
&
Organised by:

ALL INDIA FEDERATION OF OTHER BACKWARD CLASSES,
EMPLOYEES WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS
139 BROADWAY, CHENNAI-600 108

PH: 044-23460725 / 938 100 7998

Posted on October 26, 2008

Respected Sir,

Our group from Nagpur Maharashtra India , We have Fourth coming launched Asia 's First Hindi Satellite TV Channel For Buddhism. Please visit my website www.nagarjunatv.com

Thanks
Sachin Moon

Olympic Beijing Games

Egyptian leads Group B weightlifting at 62kg

Last Updated: Monday, August 11, 2008 | 3:02 AM ET CBC Sports

http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/weightlifting/story/2008/08/11/olympics-weightlifting-62kg.html

Tribunal dismisses
caste-system discrimination complaint

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=862ce31b-7e5b-430c-964d-db227ee7a14a

© The Vancouver Sun 2008

Reverse caste bias alleged in Canada

Rights complaint dismissed

DR. RONKI RAM IN TORONTO

Welcome Dr. Ronki Ram as being a chief guest for the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's 117th Birthday celebration in Toronto

Staging of “The Fifth Cup”
A drama highlighling caste-discrimination in UK

NCDHR BAGS PRESTIGEOUS HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD

www.ambedkartimes.com

Congratulates to

NCDHR for getting Prestigeous Human Rights Award.

Posted on September 24, 2007