Mirchpur caste riot victims want justice, not new houses

NEW DELHI - The Supreme Court directive to provide protection and new houses to the victims of caste violence in Haryana’s Mirchpur village gave no solace to the refugees camping at the Valmiki temple here. They unleashed their anger on a government official, saying they “do not want new houses, but justice”.

The attack on Hisar Deputy Commissioner Yudhvir Singh came after the Supreme Court directive Wednesday to the Haryana government to provide protection and new houses to the victims of caste violence in Mirchpur village, in Hisar district.

“We are against this directive. We do not want to go back. Last time they burned our homes in daylight, this time they say they will do so at night also,” said Vinod, 26, a daily wage labourer in his native village.

The refugees from Mirchpur village have been camping at the Valmiki Mandir on Mandir Marg of New Delhi for over two weeks now.

“Our main demand is justice. I don’t want a new house, I want justice,” said Kamla Devi, whose husband and daughter were burnt alive in an arson attack on her house April 21.

To the surprise of many non-government organisation (NGO) activists present on the temple premises, the mood among the refugees became sombre and unsettling after the news of the apex court directive.

“Send me to Pakistan, but I will not go back to that village. My family was burnt alive,” Kamla shouted before fainting due to the heat and mental agitation.

According to the refugees, the predominant, majority community is pressurising them to withdraw the cases of arson and mob attack filed against them.

Singh, who came to inform the villagers about the apex court’s direction to the state government, had to bear the brunt of the refugees’ rage.

“The deputy commissioner of Hisar district came to meet the protesters to convey the instructions given to him by the Supreme Court. He was attacked by the angry protesters as they did not want to go back,” Vinod said.

According to eyewitnesses, Singh was barely finishing speaking when Kamla devi, who had regained consciousness by then, interrupted him. “My family was burnt alive. I want justice first. Can you or your government give it?” Kamla asked.

To this Singh responded that he would do whatever was within his power, and began to walk back to his official car.

Singh’s car was attacked and stopped by angry protesters. He tried to get away with his entourage of administrators and security men on foot, but the angry refugees chased and manhandled him.

The situation was finally brought under control after 15 police personnel from Mandir Marg police station came to Singh’s rescue.

Asked whether this violence was justified, a villager who chased the deputy commissioner, replied: “Why do people become Naxalites? Why do they take up arms? This is the reason, when the administration fails to provide justice, this will happen to them.”

The community elders have decided to stay put in Delhi and take their demands to the central government.

As many as 150 Dalit families were driven out of Mirchpur village April 21, after an arson attack on their homes in Hisar district, about 300 km from Chandigarh.

A 70-year-old man and his 18-year-old physically challenged daughter were killed and at least 18 houses were damaged in the attack blamed on the dominant upper caste members of the village.