People's Democracy

Mass Protest On Dalit’s Murder

A MASS protest of over 200 people, presided over by the president of the struggle committee Harphul Singh Moonak was organised at the Kisan Bhawan, Panipat in Haryana. The protest is the latest in the series of protests since Amali Lal, a dalit with 18 goats disappeared from Rer Kalan village in broad daylight. His body was found near the canal a day later with the throat slit and no sign was found of the goats. According to local reports, they were marched by the killers (two of them were seen) to nearly Sithiana village where they rusted away on a truck. Cattle and goat rusting is now becoming a common method of looting the small livestock farmers who raise farm animals on village land the rural landlords hope to take over after chasing the dalits away. So, dalits in Karnal and Panipat districts are greatly disturbed by increasing acts of cattle rusting.

The rally was addressed among others by Suneet Chopra, joint secretary of AIAWU who pointed out that this struggle had gone beyond the limit of local panchayats and the struggle committee now had the support of mass organizations, which represented class and were capable of leading long struggles to victory. He pointed out that the guilt of the police was evident from the fact that though a murder was committed by an organised gang in broad daylight, they kept looking for individuals. He assured the committee of the full support of AIAWU in ensuring that the demands would be met.

Jagmati Sangwan, state president of AIDWA, highlighted the demand for Rs 5 lakhs compensation to Amali Lal’s family and the arrest of the cattle lifters who nurdered him. Others who addressed the protest were Dharamvir Singh Chiri, state secretary of AIAWU, Shish Pal Singh secretary of the struggle committee and district president of AIKS, Santokh Singh, AIAWU state joint secretary, Jagmal Singh and CPI(M) district secretary, Anand Jawahara, among others. 

They then marched and met the deputy commissioner of the district who assured them of immediate action and support to the widow of Amali Lal. The committee has planned a mass deputation to Delhi on December 20, if adequate action is not taken to bring the murderers of Amali Lal to book.