Pabnava (Kaithal), April 16
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has taken a strong exception to the repeated attacks and perpetuation of atrocities against Dalits in Haryana and observed that had the guidelines issued from time to time to the state, especially after the harrowing Mirchpur incident were followed, the Pabnava incident could have been avoided.

Chairman of the commission PL Punia, who visited the village and talked to the victims, said that it was both shocking and unfortunate that more than 400 persons of Rod community attacked the homes of low caste people, ransacked their houses and injured four Dalits and seven policemen.

About 50 persons were named in the FIR and 13 out of them have been arrested, but fear still stalks the villagers. Directing the administration to take stringent action against the erring cops who released a local goon Sultan Singh under pressure from the mob, Punia said he was instrumental in fuelling violence resulting in injuries and damage to property.

He said guidelines were issued to all the states to convene vigilance and monitoring meeting to stop atrocities against lower castes every three months and access the prevailing situation but the guidelines were not being followed in letter and spirit.

Villagers told the commission that assessment of damage cannot be done as the women, who have exact knowledge of goods and valuables, have been sent to safer places and exact loss due to damage or theft would be known only after the women return.

Asking the villagers to bring their families back to the village and get the survey of damage and loss done tomorrow, the chairman assured their safety and said adequate compensation would be given for the loss as per the SC and ST Act.

Appealing for restoration of normalcy, he said a rehabilitation package would also be given to the victims. He observed that the directions of the Chief Minister after the Mirchpur incident are not adhered to by the DC and SPs, resulting in such incidents.

However, threat of further attacks loomed large over the victims who were on tenterhooks and spending sleepless nights as most of the persons involved in attack and named in the FIR are moving freely.

Pabnawa (Kaithal), April 16
Deserted chopal, bricks and stones scattered all around, broken gates and ransacked houses of Dalits narrate the horrid tale of brutal violence perpetrated on them by goons of upper caste at Pabnawa village of Kaithal district on the intervening night of April 13 and 14, forcing the Dalit womenfolk to flee the village.

The horrifying incident took place on the eve of 122nd birth anniversary of BR Ambedakar, known as messiah of Dalits, and about 80 houses were ransacked and 11 persons, including seven policemen, were seriously injured.

The Dalits paid for the "sin" of marrying an upper caste girl by a Dalit boy of the village and the brutal attack engineered after giving ultimatum to the Dalits to return the girl within two days, the victims lamented.

The upper caste community could not digest marriage of Surya Kant, a Dalit, and Meena belonging to Rod community, and their marriage spelled doom for the entire community, living under fear and terror.

Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes PL Punia who arrived at the village to take stock of the situation was encountered by an 80-year old woman when he had barely walked 100 metres into snaking gullies who fell on his feet and asked "What is our fault. What have we done".

The women identified as Raji, mother of "Miya" the kiryana shopowner at the chopal who was seriously injured and was admitted to PGI when more than 400 persons of Rod community, opposed to marriage of their girl with low caste boy, attacked their homes just sought justice.

With tears rolling down her cheeks, Raji pointed towards the gate of her broken home which was ransacked and said they came like a tornado, attacked my son, injured him, took away the canter, shop material and assets.

She was not the only one to tell her tale of woes and every broken gate had a story inside it. Another resident who was an eyewitness to the attack, Ramesh, said neither had we supported Surya Kant of our community who got married to Meena of Rod community nor we were instrumental in the marriage. Then why we have been victimised and forced to live under threat.

An old man Lakhmi Chand said we were fortunate that we sent our women and kids to our relatives' place after the big wigs of Rod community served an ultimatum of two days on April 10 to get the girl back or face the consequences.

The worst hit were the people engaged in menial jobs who feel threatened to go out to earn their livelihood and were waiting for the survey to be completed so that they could get money to reconstruct their homes.