Dalits still fear returning home after arson attack

HISAR - Nearly 20 terrorised families are still camping outside Haryana’s Mirchpur village after last month’s arson attack on Dalit houses, in which two people were burnt alive. They refuse to return home despite assurances of financial help and security from the state government.

“Despite various assurances by the government, we are still not sure about the safety of Dalits. That is why many affected families have refused to return to the village. All their claims are on paper and the actual situation is still very dismal in the village,” Joginder Gogripur, president of Valmiki Yuva Sabha that represents the Dalit community in the state, said here Monday.

He said the government has failed in preventing atrocities against Dalits in the state.

A 70-year-old man, Tara Chand, and his 18-year-old physically challenged daughter were killed after they sustained burn injuries and at least 18 houses were damaged in an arson attack April 21 on Dalit families in Mirchpur village of the district.

Top leaders, including Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, have visited the village and promised financial help to the victims’ families.

During his visit April 27, Hooda had announced financial aid of Rs.10 lakh each and employment to a family member of the two people killed in the arson attack.

“Victims of Mirchpur incident are being fully compensated for the loss to their houses and domestic goods. Both sons of Tara Chand have been given government jobs. Based on their qualification, Amar Lal has been offered a clerk’s job while Pardeep has been given a peon’s job,” said Deputy Commissioner of Hisar O.P. Sheoran.

He added: “Rs.5 lakh compensation has been provided to Amar and the remaining Rs.15 lakh will be provided to Tara Chand’s wife Kamala.”

But the victim’s family is not happy with the compensation announced.

His wife Kamala, along with other members of the community, has been staging a sit-in protest outside the deputy commissioner’s office here. They are demanding Rs.25 lakh as compensation for each of the victims and an increased financial aid for the damaged houses.

Hooda had also announced financial assistance of Rs.25,000 and free treatment to the injured. Apart from compensation for the damage to houses and domestic goods, two quintals of wheat was also announced as immediate relief for each of the affected families.

Twenty-seven people, including a policeman and a revenue official, have been arrested after the attack, the cause of which they said was enmity between two communities.