M A I N   N E W S

Mirchpur Violence
Arrest accused by Sept 10, SC tells Haryana

New Delhi, August 26
The Supreme Court today directed the Haryana government to make all possible efforts to arrest by September 10 all accused involved in the killing of two Dalits and the destruction of 150 houses in Mirchpur village in Hisar district on April 21 allegedly by upper caste people.

The court also slammed the Haryana government for its failure to provide relief and rehabilitation measures to the affected families and directed the authorities to provide two quintals of wheat to each affected family.

“Some people are not yet being arrested. They should be arrested before the next date of hearing,” a Bench comprising Justice GS Singhvi and Justice AK Ganguly said while posting the next date of hearing for September 10. The apex court perused the over 100-page report submitted by the state government in a sealed cover along with the fact-finding report prepared by a team of lawyers representing the victims.

“We have seen the report (of the state government) which is contrary to the report of the other side,” the Bench said while expressing dissatisfaction over the steps taken by the state government and directed it to file a fresh affidavit.

The fact-finding report submitted by senior advocte Colin Gonsalves, who is representing the victims, said the state government failed to keep its promise of providing adequate relief and rehabilitation.

He said in the report it is clearly mentioned that the authorities have not properly implemented the MNREGA.

Further, the dwelling houses for Dalits in the village were made of mud and not cement, the report said, adding that even the District Collector did not visit the village and, instead, only met the victims at the Valmiki Temple in the Capital where they were given shelter.

The apex court had on June 2 warned that it would “take a very serious view” if such incidents recurred.

“Such incidents of killings have been taking place for the past five years,” the Bench said during the hearing while expressing anguish that the administration was not doing enough.

During the previous hearing, the court had pulled up the state government for its failure to prevent the incident. — PTI