Caste violence in Telangana and AP remains unabated
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Hyderabad: Caste violence in Telangana and AP remains unabated with the rising number of crimes being committed against dalits and scheduled tribes. Over 7,000 cases of different offences including several violent incidents, in which SC/STs were victims, were reported in both the states in 2014, the NCRB data revealed.
There has been a steep rise in these offences as compared to last year. Police officials, however, claim that these are not organised attacks on the lower caste, but spontaneous incidents. As per NCRB data, 4,741 cases in AP and 2,263 cases in TS were reported last year following complaints from victims belonging to the SC/ST community. The data showed that 61 dalit women were raped in AP, while 87 were sexually assaulted in TS, which has a SC/ST population of 54.3 lakh, while AP has 84.5 lakh.
Three other states, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan, topped the chart with the maximum number of crime against SC/STs. Social activists say that unlike old times, dalits have started coming out and reporting the incidents to the police.
Earlier, eminent academician and writer, Prof. Ilaiah had suggested that each panchayat should have one dalit member who should report atrocities against SC/STs to the police.
“In every police station, at least one officer’s post should be reserved for SC/ST. The Dalit police officer can take care of such cases more effectively,” he had said.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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