NEW DELHI: There has been a steady rise in the killing of persons belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) from 1981 to 1986 “except during 1985 when there was a slight fall”, the 28th report (1986 87) of the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes submitted to the President some time ago, says.

In the case of the Scheduled ‘Tribes there was a rise in the number of murder cases from 1981 to 1984. During 1985 there was a slight fall but the number again rose during 1986, it says. ‘The number of murders against SGs rose from 493 in 1981 to 564 in 1986 while the figure for STs rose from 110 in 1981 to 160 in 1986.

Rape cases in the same period rose from 504 to 727 in the case of Scs and from 259 to 285 in the case of STs, touching 312 in 1984. “Despite various measures having been adopted to check atrocities ‘on the Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes by the Central and State Governments atrocities on members of these communities persist”.

According to the Commissioner there are three reasons for it unresolved disputes related to the allotment of Government land or distribution of surplus land to the landless SC/ST person, tension and bitterness created by non payment or underpayment of minimum wages prescribed by the ‘State Governments and resentment against growing awareness among the SCs and STs about their rights and privileges.

Madhya Pradesh registered the maximum number of IPC cases, 32 percent of the country’s total, in which SCs were victims. It heads the list also in the case of STs. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Na du, Karnataka, Kerala and Andra Pradesh are the other States which registered over 1000 IPC cases during 198186. “The bare statistics about the atrocities and final analysis of their causes and the scheme of relief in financial terms do not bring out in full the issue of atrocities on SCs and STs” says the report.

“While most of these cases remain local events, some of them get known in the larger areas and also may get picked up by the regional and national press. Cases involving mob attacks and heinous crimes on a large scale tend to get full publicity, though the concern waives as the media turns its focus ‘on other issues.”

Wages, the root cause: The dispute over wages and occupation of Jand have been at the root of recur rent killings in Bihar, particularly Jehanabad district. “In Arwal the issue of possession of a small piece of land led to police firing in which according to the reports 11 persons died on the spot and out of the 20 injured nine died in the hospital”, the report said.

In Chakrasool village of Ballia district,Uttar Pradesh, a land dispute led to the murder of four Harijans. “The sensitivity on this (land) issue was so acute that a dispute arose when one of the members of the Scheduled Castes went just for collection of bamboo leaves on the disputed land which was promptly objected by the Thakurs and an attack followed in which four Harijans were killed”.

“The usual inquiries were made by the police. The Chief Minister visited the village and compensation was sanctioned to the next of kin of the deceased and the injured. The matter is pending before the court”.

Yet another case listed in the report is from Dipakheda, Mand saur district. “A Scheduled Caste woman was engaged by no less a person than the local MLA. She was working under the condition of bondage and her only crime was to ask her employer to pay a little more wage. She was mercilessly beaten up and thrown out with severe injuries.

While investigating the death of a boy in Banal village (Gaya district), the police arrested a large number of Harijans, ransacked their houses and tortured them during custody. “The DIG of Police (Harijan cell) confirmed that the local police had severely beaten up a Schedule Caste person and fractured his leg. Action was also initiated against the SHO”.

Conflict over tree fellings: “The case from Chamharshet Bhusaparda village, Taluk HJawahar, District Thane (Maharasthra) brings into sharp focus the conflict on the issue of forests in which force tends to be used as a matter of course. The dispute arose over the alleged felling of trees by tribal and use of timer in their huts”.

“When the forest officials tried to confiscate the timber there was resistance by the people who claimed to have taken out timber for the purposes of their proposed shifting from that hamlet to another since it was likely to come under submergence.”

The next day the police and forest officials went to the village without informing the Magistrate. Resistance by people led to firing in which one tribal woman was killed.

In his report the Commissioner says that “atrocities on SCs and STs have acquired a new economic dimension. The issues concerning equity, therefore, have become much more intricate.

Article extracted from this publication >>  October 27, 1989