Dalits who fled village launch protest, demand arrest of 19 upper-caste men for threats
Dehradun: Members of Dalit families in Tehri district who were forced to flee their village of Gangi in the quiet of the night after alleged threats from upper-caste men have sat on a protest in Parade Ground in Dehradun on Monday. The Dalits are demanding arrest of 19 upper-caste men from the village in Bhilangana block who allegedly threatened to burn them alive. An FIR has been registered under the SC/ST Act against them.The Dalits are also demanding that police trace a youth, who has been missing since the row in the village on December 3 , As Reported By TOI.
According to the Newspaper,Another demand includes suspension of police officers who the community claimed were pressurising them to withdraw the case.The group of 38 villagers were living in makeshift camps in Ghansali following a spat between an upper caste woman and Rakesh Lal, a Dalit youth. The woman had asked the youth to play drums and music for a wedding. However, he turned down her request and also pushed her away asking her to go back to her own house.
Source: Nyoooz
