Tension in Haryana village as arson victims’ bodies cremated

HISAR - Two days after they were killed in an arson attack allegedly by members of a community, the last rites of an elderly Dalit man and his 18-year-old physically challenged daughter were conducted here Friday amidst tight security in the presence of senior police and local officials.

Tara Chand, 70, and his daughter Suman were burnt alive in a blaze Wednesday after their house was torched by members of the dominant community in Mirchpur village in this district.

Police arrested 25 people for the incident and said the attack was due to an old enmity between the two communities.

However, infuriated over the police inaction and their failure to prevent the tragedy, Dalit community members refused to conduct the last rites of the two Thursday. They were demanding registration of criminal cases against senior officials of the local administration and police.

Senior officials managed to persuade the community representatives to cremate the bodies Friday, but tension prevailed in the area.

Senior officials who attended the funeral included the deputy commissioner of Hisar and the district police chief.

“We have assured the victims’ family of all help and we will ensure that justice is done in this case. Criminal cases have been registered against the Station House Officer (SHO) of the area, deputy superintendent of police and the tehsildar (village block official),” Sampat Singh, Haryana Congress legislator, told reporters here Friday.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda described the incident as unfortunate.

“The Mirchpur incident was very unfortunate and the concerned SHO has been suspended. We urge the people to maintain peace and calm,” said Hooda here Friday.

He added, “The guilty will not be spared and strict action will be taken against all culprits.”

According to police, some miscreants had resorted to arson in Mirchpur and damaged property Wednesday. Suman died on the spot while her father succumbed to injuries in the hospital.

“Some members of the Dalit community had beaten up youths from the other community after an altercation related to eve-teasing. The local panchayat (village council) intervened and got a compromise between the two parties,” said a police official, on condition of anonymity.

“To take revenge on the Dalits, the youths from the other community burnt their houses after pouring kerosene,” the official said.