The village Bukna is located in Banaskantha district. Rajput community is a dominant caste in the village. Koyabhai Ukabhai was a member of schedule caste and having some piece of land in the village. Rajput wanted to take away that land to build road for their use. When Koyabhai refused to give land, he and his family was harassed by Rajput community. \\\\Therefore, Koyabhai filed complaint against them but police did not act upon, the family of Koyabhai with no option left, had to migrate to the collector office.

Then the family was given assurance by the police that they would protect them. Thereafter, the family came back to the village. After some time the protection was removed and on 29/08/2007 he was killed by Rajput Ramji Pira, Rajput Dudha Pira, Rajput Ganpat Ramji, Rajput Jama Ramji, Rajput Gulab Duha and others.

The incident left the greater impact on other dalit families, who were residing in the village. Because of the fear of Rajput 19 families that includes 27 males, 22 females and 51 children had migrated to the office of the collector. After the intervention of the Navsarjan organization other six accused were arrested. 

Anandharaj (16) S/o Mr.Settu belongs to Hindu Parayar community studying 10^th standard Government higher secondary school, Endiyur. On 28^th August 2007, around 9.a.m. when he was sitting at his class room, he was called by Thesingh S/o Mr.Babu (Panchayat President of Aathur) belong to Hindu Vannier community studing 12^th standard ‘A’ section at the same school ny stated that he went to talk to him.

Thesingh was took him into the Cashrino wood stock, which is located near the school. When they have reached the Cashrino wood stock Mr. Anandharaj found some of the students were hidden inside the Cashrino wood stock namely Nagaraj, Sridhar, Manikandan, Murugan and Athimoolam reside at IRaiyanur and Endiyr. They were brutally assaulted by the above mentioned students and told him atrociously that, “are you too Audacious, can’t you give respect to us, we will burn your village” they abused on the name of caste derogatorily and they have threatened him and slapped on his cheek on three times, Nagaraj was knocked on his head, Murugan was dragged pushed him and dazed his head on the reee, followed that Athimoolam was hit on his neck and stocach by told that, “I will beat you even in your village, I will do that”. Sridhar was forcibly hit on his stomach and head. Also they were pushed him on the floor and kicked him on various parts of the body for long time. The following students namely Madhan, Prakash Aungunam and Santhosh were rushed to the spot and tried to protect Anandharaj from the assault but they  were threatened by the caste Hindu and they discharged from there. There after the head master has called them and only warned and left with out taking any seriousness of the issue.

On August 15^th 2007, Rajesh who is a non student, reside at Endiyur belong to the Hindu Vanniyar community has called Anantha Raj when he was in school, Anandha Raj has thought that he is calling small children who have also came with Anantha Raj and he has not responded. Again Rajesh called him and told “When I called you? Can’t you give respect to me?” And also assaulted and abused him. Anandaraj was treated in the government hospital, Tindivanam around 7.Pm on 2th August 2007 for his wounds. After that they went to the Premmathesam police station and lodge the complaint against those Caste hindus. 

Kujota village is located 25 kilometers from the District headquarter Jaipur. This village is full of Meena (Scheduled Tribe) community and agriculture is their main occupation. The situation of Dalit families is very poor and they are dependent on daily wages for their livelihood. Anu Bai, daughter of Maman Meena has been living in Kujota village with her family and studying in class 8^th.  Anu’s father used to have alcohol. One day on August 25^th , 2007 she was going to her school, on the way at the bus stand, Deepak Meena, Rakesh Meena and his friend came to her and coaxed her by telling that her maternal grandmother is not well and asked her to come with them as they were going there. Believing them as they were known to her (as one of them is her relative), Anu sat with them in Car. On the way they offered her a cold drink, as soon as Anu had the drink she fell unconscious. The accused took her somewhere, kept her confined and raped her for five days.

After five days they dropped her at Kotputali bus stand and escaped. Somehow Anu reached her home and narrated the whole incident to her uncle. Then her uncle went to the Police station and lodged an FIR against the accused. After registering FIR, police started the investigation of the case but as the accused were from the same community and her relative too, their own community people started pressurizing Anu’s family to withdraw the case and come to compromise. Anu’s family is not very rich and powerful. On August 30, 2007 the Local Police of Kotputli registered the FIR No – 554/07 under section 363, 376(2) (g) Indian Penal Code 1860 and started investigation of the case. But the local police failed to provide safety and security to Anu and her family which finally turned into compromise.

Apart from the social pressure the police and administration officers, also persuaded the victim and her family not to pursue the case and to compromise with the perpetrators in lieu of some monetary relief. The victim was so helpless that she could not withstand the pressure extended on her from all corners; by her own community, relatives and also from the police

In the beginning, all the villagers supported Anu and her family to come forward against the wrong. Some organizations also came forward to support them, but as soon as her community leaders started pressurizing them they all pulled their hands back and let them on their destiny which resulted in compromise.

 Anu’s family is very poor and her father is habitual of liquor. On the other hand the accused and their families are quite dominant and rich. When they came to know that Anu with the help of her uncle have lodged an FIR against them at Kothputli Police station, they rushed at her home and tried to persuade her family with all means either by pressure from community or with money. They offered some money to them to compromise in account of her dignity. Initially Anu and her family denied to compromise and confirmed to continue legal action against them. When the accused failed to convince them to compromise, they asked their community leaders for convincing them. The leaders and they all pressurized Anu and her family to change her statement in court. They started threatening her. At last due to pressure of their community members, they decided to change their statement before the Magistrate and compromised with the accused besides Anu’s plea to take appropriate action against the wrong doers who spoiled her whole life and made her to live with this stigma that she had been raped.

Case in Brief

Papagalla Shailaja, aged 16 years, D/o Papagalla Paparayudu, resident of Harijanawada, Gurrampadu village, Chennuru mandal, Kadapa district belongs to SC Madiga caste.  She has completed her 10th standard 2 years back and is staying at home.  Her parents work as agricultural labourers.  Due to financial problems, her parents have taken loan from a financer Mundliri Gangadhar Reddy, aged 40 years resident of Nazeerbaig Palle, Chennuru mandal, OC Reddy by caste.  Shailaja’s parents delayed in repaying the debt and Gangadhara Reddy has been pressurizing them for payment.  

On 22nd August 2007, as her father was sick, Shailaja went to Nazeerbaig Palle to get breakfast for him.  While Shailaja was returning to her home, at around 07:30 a.m. , Gangadhara Reddy stopped her near Ramulori Bavi and asked her from where she was coming.  She said that her father is sick and she is taking break fast for him.  He caught her hand and pulled her towards him and tried to rape her.  She somehow managed to escape and went to her home.  As her father is sick and mother went out on work, she did not reveal the incident to anyone.  When her mother returned from work at 07:30 p.m., she narrated everything to her.  Immediately Shailaja’s mother went to Gangadhara Reddy’s house in Nazeerbaig Palle and questioned him about the incident.  He threatened and abused her in the name of caste saying “Amey Madiga lanje, ee vishayam avarikaina chepte meeru oorlo undaleru.  Mimmalnandarini champutaanu” (You Madiga bitch, if you reveal this to any one, you can’t stay in the village.  I will kill you all). 

Shailaja’s parents complained in the Chennuru Police Station at around 9:30 p.m. and an FIR No. 88/07 was registered on 22nd August 2007 u/s 354 of IPC and 3(1)(x) of SC/ST (PoA) Act.  

DSS Intervention:

• DSS conducted fact finding and approached the police officials.  
• DSS represented the case to the commissions for inclusion of sections and payment of compensation.  

Case in Brief

78 tribal families live in Vakapalli village of Madugula Mandal in Visakhapatnam district. The men in the village went for work in the agricultural fields early in the morning by 4am in the morning of the day of incident. Around 6am on 20th of August’07, 24 policemen on combing duty entered the village and started searching saying that 2 naxalites were in the village. They were also asking the tribal women for the whereabouts of Suryam a former naxalite since for the past few days. Since the police did not get the desired reply, they caught hold of 11 women including Sridevi wife of Suryam and dragged some into huts, some into nearby turmeric fields and some into the bushes and raped them. The remaining women fled away on to the mountain, etc. Pieces of bangles and damaged turmeric plants were seen in place of occurrence. Sridevi who gave birth to a baby recently was raped in her house itself. The police went into the house of a women working in Velugu, tore all the books, displaced all furniture and searched for naxalite literature. 

Knowing the information some of the men returned to the village around 9am and caught hold of 2 policemen and they escaped by pleading them. One man said that if I would have caught them I would have cut their legs. The village sarpanch Raja Rao went to the Madugula Police Station along with MLA Sri.L.Raja Rao including the victims and lodged a complaint. 

The total area is under tense situation and by seeing the organizations coming in four wheelers the people were under the fear that the police are again coming.    

State Women Rights Forum/DSS organized a press meet, signature campaign with 43 organizations and submitted a memorandum to the Governor.   

The victims sat for indefinite hunger strike from 24th September 2007.  SWRF expressed solidarity with the victims.  After 5 days, as the SP gave the assurance to take action as per their demands, the victims called off their strike on 28th September 2007. 

Present Status of the Case:             

• Writ petition filed in AP High Court.