Janu Kumari (12), belongs to Musahar (SC) is the youngest daughter of Ram Vilas Sadai and Shanti Devi.  After her father died of tuberculosis in 1999, her eldest brother became the head of the household. He is newly married and drinks regularly. Due to poverty, Janu Kumari never attended school and is therefore illiterate. She has four elder brothers and two elder sisters. Janu, along with her mother and siblings, works as a daily wage agricultural labourer. Janu works in the fields of a dominant caste Yadav landowner named Lakhan Yadav. Lakhan’s son is named Kishan Yadav (17 years). Janu had five goats. When she goes to the fields to work, her goats would accompany her.  She would tie them up and they would graze on the grass only in the restricted area where she tied them.

On 2 June 2004, however, when Janu was planting rice in Lakhan Yadav’s field, her goats managed to free themselves from their bonds and ran into Lakhan’s field where seedlings had been planted. The goats began eating the seedlings. Kishan Yadav saw this and came running with a lathi. Upon reaching the area, he began beating the goats brutally with his lathi.  The goats scattered in fear, but one goat was pregnant and could not escape.  Kishan Yadav knocked the pregnant goat onto her side, and then proceeded to hit her extremely hard five or six times with the lathi. Janu, seeing this, came running to the field. Seeing her approaching, Kishan began screaming obscenities at her, saying, “Whore!  Wandering bitch, you don’t even tie up your goats properly!  I’m going to beat your goats to death, and I’ll do the same to your whole family!” In response, Janu replied in a very soft voice, “I always keep my goats tied up.  These just now escaped. My goats haven’t even eaten anything; why are you beating them so severely?”

Kishan Yadav grew angry at this response and began slapping Janu Kumari. He shouted, “Low caste girl, you dare talk back to me?” Her face was hurting from the slaps, and Janu herself grew angry. She slapped Kishan Yadav twice in return.  Then Kishan became livid, seized Janu by her hair and began severely beating her with his fists. He punched her seven or eight times in the face. Janu was in severe pain and became dizzy. Her entire face swelled up with internal bleeding. Crying, she walked home and told her mother what had happened. Kishan Yadav remained in his field. Janu’s mother approached him and said, “How much of your harvest did my goat eat up that you’ve beaten up the goat and my daughter?” Kishan Yadav replied with verbal abuse, saying, “Wandering prostitute!  Get out of my way or will beat you too!” Hearing this, Janu’s mother left.

On the same day, the pregnant goat that Kishan Yadav had severely beaten died along with its unborn kids. Janu and her mother were extremely upset by this, as goat-rearing provides for a substantial part of their livelihood. Janu says, “We had been planning to sell the kids after the pregnant goat gave birth, and with that money I hoped to purchase some decent clothes for my brothers and sisters. When Kishan Yadav killed the mother goat, I had to give up that hope.” Janu and her mother considered attempting to file a case against Kishan Yadav for beating Janu Kumari and killing their goat. Because they had no money, however, they decided that going to the police would be futile. Thereafter they left the matter and did not attempt to obtain justice.

The four deceased Dalits Uday Paswan, Vijay Paswan, Naga Paswan, and Shravan Paswan, belonging to SC community were leaders of their community. The village Lahsuna, Masaudi police station, Patna district in Bihar consists of two major communities, which are rivalry to each other. Kurmi community supported the People’s War Group and Paswan community supported the CPI (ML). The Kurmi community always wanted to dominate the Paswan community. They had the political tension.

On 18/05/2004 at 10.30 am the headmaster of the High School Nadma, Subhas Singh, s/o Devcharan Singh, from Sikandarpur village, Masaudi police station, Patna district, Bihar, was shot dead by the unknown persons. In retaliation to his killing the People’s War Group’s people attacked the Paswan community in Lahsuna village at 1.30pm on the same day. While the Paswans of the village were taking rest under the tree after their work in the field around 37 people came with their guns and started firing at them. Paswans ran for their lives but the four dalits Uday, Vijay, Naga and Shravan Paswan were caught and shot dead by the People’s War Group.  With the help of CPI (ML) people of the village encircled the residence of the DM and the dead body of the four was taken to the Patna Medical College Hospital for the postmortem report on 19/05/2004. On the day of the incidence Shailendra Kumar Chaudhary( SDO) and Dr. Gautam Goswami (DM) came to the village and gave rupees five hundred each to the family for the cremation of the dead. The victims were granted Rs. 10,000 each after the incidence. And also they were given food grains for a week. Apart from that they were promised to be paid compensation of Rs. 50,000 each and to be offered government jobs to a person from the family of the deceased.

But no compensation has been paid and only six perpetrators Lathi Singh alias Surjit Singh, Sahdev Singh, Yogendra Singh, Manoj Singh, Arwind Singh and Umesh Singh has been arrested. The promise is not yet fulfilled. 30 people from the Paswan community have run away from the village, as they are frightened of their lives. Rajendra Paswan filed the FIR no. 73/04 under sections 147/148/149/448/314/302 IPC, Arms Act 27, CLA Act 17 and 3/4 in the Masauri police station. No sections of SC/ST POA, 1989 are registered to the case. Now an inspector Bhola Mahesh of Patna has been investigating the case. Charge sheet has been submitted in the court. The case is under trial. The FIR no. 73/04 was filed under sections 147/148/149/448/314/302 IPC, Arms Act 27, CLA Act 17 and 3/4 by Rajendra Paswan in the Masauri police station. No sections of SC/ST POA, 1989 are registered to the case. Now an inspector Bhola Mahesh of Patna has been investigating the case. Charge sheet has been submitted in the court. The case is under trial.

Village, Vijaypura consists of influential Jat Caste (OBC) & Jatav (SC) families are less in number.  Jat community is financially and politically strong.  95% of the land is possessed by Jats. All Dalits are daily wage labourers.  Dalits are exploited by influential people of village. A year before the incident took place, Gobal Singh s/o Hari Singh by caste, Jat who grabbed the land situated closed to the well used by Dalit’s. The land belongs to Shivdayal Jatav.  When the Dalit community protested against this, they were asked to keep quiet, or else they would be killed, hence Dalits decided to go for legal remedies and release land from Gobal Singh. Gobal Jat bore grudge against Shivdayal Jatav and started thinking of teaching a lesion to the Dalits.  

On 5 may 2004, Gopal Jat and his companions threatened Dalit Community to vote for them and press the voting machine in front of them. Otherwise whole Dalit community has to bear the consequences.  Dalit community, under in the leadership of Shidayal protested and said that they would vote for a candidate according to their choice. Further they said that they would not come under any pressure.  On this point Gopal Jat and his people assaulted Shivdayal. The incident took place at the election center. Election officers and police did not interfere.  Shivdayal went to Surath police station to lodge complaint, but police did not file FIR, rather police went to the spot and stopped violence.

Again on 06 may 2004, very next day Jat Community caught hold of Shivdayal and assaulted him.  A complaint was lodged at police station Surath .  At this Jat Community got extremely angry and thus in the evening a village meeting was convened where all Dalits were called.  Due to fear none of the Dalit family turned up, so village Panchayat President, Rati Ram’s uncle Ram Prasad (Dalit) was summoned.  He was threatened and was told to pass a message to all Dalits (Chamars) that either they must compromise or be ready to face social boycott. Dalit Ram Prasad informed about the matter to all the Dalit community. The Dalits became fearful after receiving the news.

When Jats found that Dalits were not influenced with Panchayat decision, on 11 May, 04 influential Jat attacked Dalits with weapons, 12 Dalits were injured.  Two FIRs were registered in police station Surath. The very day Sub Superintendent of police (SC/ST Atrocities Cell), Sh. Harpal Singh went to the spot as the case was registered under SC/ST (PoA) Act.  10 to 12 police constables were deployed in Dalit area for protection. Though the case was registered under SC/ST (PoA) Act victims were not provided any compensation. 

Goda Srinivas Rao S/o Muthyalu, Goda  Narender S/o Muthyalu, Goda Mallesh, Goda Krishna Swamy and 12 others upper caste people attacked the SC dalit villagers of Bollepally Village in Bhongiri Mandal of Nalgonda Dist. Bollepally village is situated with the revenue of Bhongiri mandal in Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh. There are 200 families of Gouda, 200 families of Madiga, 2 families of Mala, 50 families of Golla (Yadav), 15 families of the Reddy Community and 150, families of Munnurkopu community staying in Bollepally village.

On 21/04/2004 the upper caste (Gouda) people attacked dalits SC (Madiga) in connection of the Assembly Election, which was head on 20/04/2004. In that village SC Community people are the supporter of the Telugu Desam Party and the BCs (Gouda) are the supporter of the Congress. One Goda Srinivas Rao S/o Muthyalu 36 years belongs to Gauda caste is a dominating person in the village. His wife Ramadevi is the Sarpancha of the village. SC community people did not vote to Ramadevi in the Sarapancha election also did not vote in favor of the Congress in the Assembly Election, which was head on 20/04/2004.

On 21/04/2004 at 6.00am Goda Srinivas Rao along with one hundred fifty members attacked on dalits SC families with sticks and other weapon and caused injuries. Some of the SC people left the village due to the fear of culprits. At that time some people were sleeping in their houses they did not wake up. Some of them had abused us in their caste name saying that “Madiga Lanjakodukullara, Mee Brathukulu Yendukurra, Mee kulam Yenthara, Meeru Kurcheela Meeda Kurchuntrarura Randa Lanjakodukullara” they removed the door of the houses with the help of stones, knives and sticks, and dragged the women folk out of house abusing and damaged the house hold articles.

They entered into the houses of Kolapaka Sailu and Manchala Yadagiri, damaged the household articles and threatened them to kill and beat them at the point of stones, knives and cycle chains. The upper caste people do not allow the dalit SCs to enter in the temple. They also not allow dalit SCs to sit in front of them. Once Sandela Sudhakar elected as the Co- operative Chairman but the upper caste people did not allowed him to sit on the chair. Goda Srinivas Rao and other upper caste people are always harassing dalit SCs people and especial the women those who are living alone they also abused dalit SCs in filthy language. Near about 30 families left the village and staying in Hyderabad for their livelihoods they are working as drivers, tailors and in the marketing line. They are living in a better position when they return to the village the upper caste people did not tolerate them and they abuse them. Now the dalit SCs people are living in the fear of the upper Gouda caste people.  Sandela Suddhaker gave a complaint against the upper caste people at Bhongiri police station, based on that complaint the Bhongiri police. The case is in Special Court under trial and the victims got 1^st phase compensation.

Kusumi Devi (40), belonging to Chamar (SC) is an illiterate and landless woman.  Her primary occupation is daily wage agricultural labour in the fields of dominant caste Rajput landlords, for which she receives 3 kg of rice paddy (of which only half is actual rice grain) as her daily wage, plus two chapatis with salt and raw onion as breakfast. Because she is a Dalit and her touch is, therefore, considered “polluting”, this food is given with no plate, and she has to keep the chapatis and onions in her hands while eating.Kusumi Devi was married at the age of 17 years to Dhanesar Ram.  She says that her husband is a very nice and loving person, and that they have a happy married life together. With Dhanesar Ram, Kusumi Devi has four daughters and two sons: Rajesh Kumar (22 years) studied through 10^th standard, Sangeeta Kumari (20 years) also passed 10^th standard, Sabita Kumari (18 years) also passed 10^th standard, Kavita Kumari (15 years) is currently studying in 9^th standard, Amresh Kumar (13 years) is studying in 6^th standard, and Poonam Kumari (10 years) is studying in 5^th standard.

At about noon on 19 April 2004, just a month after the assault on Durgawati Devi and her son, Kusumi Devi, Ruda Devi, Rina Kumari (13 years, daughter of Doman Ram and Kusumi Devi’s cousin sister) and a few other Chamar women were sitting in front of Rina Kumari’s house. They were examining clothes from a street vendor’s cart and considering making purchases. It was the day before national parliamentary elections were to be held in Aurangabad district, and so tension hung thick in the air. As the Dalit women were looking at the clothes for sale, Harinder Singh approached and began packing up and down the same stretch of road without any apparent purpose, chewing betel leaf and spitting.  At one point, he spat deliberately at the feet of Ruda Devi. Ruda Devi turned to Kusumi Devi, who whispered, “Don’t say anything; he is trying to provoke us and if you speak up, he will beat us.” On this advice, Ruda remained quiet. Still, Kusumi sensed that Harinder Singh was about to do something, so she quietly advised the rest of the women to disperse and take refuge in their own homes, behind closed doors. As the women split up, Kusumi said to Rina Kumari, “Close the door from inside as soon as you get in.” Kusumi was aware that Harinder Singh had been eyeing Rina Kumari for some time, and sensed that he had bad intentions.

The women went their separate ways and Harinder Singh immediately pursued Rina Kumari.  Rina managed to close the door just as Harinder reached the spot, but he kicked the bamboo-thatch door and it broke.  Forcibly entering her hut, Harinder violently seized hold of Rina Kumari with a clear intention to rape her, and so Rina screamed. Hearing the scream, Kusumi Devi ran to the spot and challenged Harinder, saying, “Why are you entering this girl’s home when her parents are not here?” Harinder replied, “I have come to see Rina’s mother because she gives me medicines for toothaches and earaches.” As he did not leave, Kusumi Devi grew bolder and said, “Why are you trying to violate this girl’s dignity?” At this, Harinder picked up a thick wooden stick from the courtyard of Rina’s house and assaulted Kusumi Devi.  He attacked her with the stick, beating her back and arms.  He beat her so severely that he broke her right lower arm. When the bone was fractured, Kusumi Devi screamed loudly, and people began to arrive to see what was happening.  Kusumi’s husband Dhanesar Ram approached, running, and Harinder beat him over the head with the same wooden stick.  Injured, Dhanesar Ram fell to the ground, where Harinder continued to beat him on the head and arms with the stick.

A number of armed Rajput men gathered at the place, ready to support Harinder in his assault on the Dalits.  From the Dalit side, Dhanesar’s brother Parmeshwar Ram, uncle Sakichand Ram, and other Chamar men arrived armed with sticks and sharp-edged farm instruments to use as weapons. The Rajputs injured Parmeshwar Ram by breaking his shoulder bone, and injured Sakichand by slicing his heel with a sharp weapon.  Harinder and other armed Rajputs continued beating Kusumi Devi, her husband and his relatives, while other Rajputs merely watched, laughing. After the attack, no one among the Dalits considered going to the police station first, but rushed instead to the hospital. Kusumi Devi, her husband Dhanesar Ram, Parmeshwar Ram and Sakichand Ram were all seriously injured. From the village, however, they could not find any driver willing to travel the few kilometres to the government hospital in Aurangabad town, as any travel in Bihar is perilous on the day before elections. Finally, after desperate searching, the victims managed to engage a bicycle rickshaw driver for an exorbitant Rs.100/- to take the four injured persons to Sadar Government Hospital, Aurangabad. The other Dalits and those who had been less seriously wounded walked the distance to the hospital. As it was a case of violent attack, the government hospital officials reported the matter to the Aurangabad Town Police Station, and the Sub-Inspector, a dominant caste woman named Renu Devi (FC Kayasth, 50 years), came to the hospital at 10:00 p.m. Sub-Inspector Renu Devi approached Kusumi Devi and asked her to return with her to the police station to give her statement.  Kusumi Devi, however, was in severe pain due to her broken arm and other injuries, and was unable to get herself out of the hospital bed.  When she expressed her inability to move, the Sub-Inspector said they could take the jeep rather than walk.  Kusumi reiterated that she could not even get out of bed, to which the Sub-Inspector became annoyed and scolded Kusumi Devi, saying, “You can’t even get up after just a little beating.  I can take more beatings than this!”

Finally, the Sub-Inspector took Kusumi Devi’s statement in the hospital itself.  Kusumi narrated the entire incident in the order that it had occurred. Kusumi Devi and the three Dalit men remained in the hospital for several days, and they incurred Rs.13,000/- in medical expenses to treat their injuries from the violence. When the violence took place, Rina Kumari’s parents were not at home.  They were harvesting onions in the fields of a Rajput landlord for their daily wage. When they returned to the village for lunch at noon, they learned from Rina what had happened. Doman Ram, Rina’s father, then went to Risiyap Police Station and lodged a FIR stating that Harinder Singh and his friends had come to Doman Ram’s home, broken open the door, caught hold of Rina Kumari, and looted the family’s belongings, stealing Rs.6,000/- from a suitcase. In order to hide the fact that Harinder Singh had seized Rina Kumari with the intention to rape her (a matter Doman Ram thought would bring disgrace upon his family and damage his daughter’s marriage prospects), Doman Ram concealed this fact in his FIR statement, and invented the story of the burglary.  The case was registered as Crime No. 85/04, under secs. 447, 354, 323, 325, 379 read with 34 IPC at 1:00 p.m. that day. Risiyap Station Sub-Inspector Rajender Ram (Chamar, 52 years) was responsible for lodging the FIR.

Meanwhile, following the attack, the perpetrators also went to Risiyap Police Station.  Harinder Singh’s mother Urmila tied a handkerchief on her hand and, pretending to be injured, lodged a false complaint stating that Dhanesar Ram, Parmeshwar Ram, Sakichand Ram, Uday and Awadesh (all Chamars who were actually victims of the Rajput assault) had snatched away her golden chain and beaten her and her family members. She claimed that the Dalits had attacked her with sharp weapons. The Rajputs’ false case was registered as Crime No. 85/04 under sec. 379 IPC and other sections at 2:00 p.m. that day. Some days later, when Kusumi Devi and the others had been discharged from the hospital, Navi Nagar Police Station Inspector Mohan Lal (FC Kayasth, 55 years) and Risiyap Sub-Inspector Rajender Ram came together to the village to conduct an enquiry. At that time Kusumi Devi was not at home. The officers took the statement of Doman Ram and his wife (Rina’s parents), who repeated exactly the story they had given in their FIR.

Nine days after the attack (that is, on 28 April 2004), Harinder Singh, advised by his fellow Rajputs to turn himself in “because you have so many cases on your head”, went to the court and surrendered himself. He was put in jail on account of Durgawati Devi’s case against him (Risiyap P.S. Crime No. 38/04 under secs. 341, 323, 504 and 34 IPC and 3(1)(x) SC/ST (PoA) Act, registered on 14 March 2004). After one month, he was released on bail.  Neither the other Rajputs named in Rina’s parents’ case (Harinder’s family members), nor the Rajput assailants named in Kusumi Devi’s statement to the police, have been arrested. In the next three months, Doman Ram went to Risiyap Police Station five times in pursuit of the Dalits’ case against Harinder Singh, but still the case had not been charge sheeted. The problem is that there are two different versions of the case, one based on Kusumi’s statement in the Aurangabad hospital, and the other based on Doman Ram’s statement at Risiyap Police Station. Thirdly, there is the false case filed by the Rajputs. Because of the conflicting versions, the Dalits sense that their case is weak and the police are likely to drop the matter altogether.  Kusumi Devi and the other injured persons have approached Doman Ram asking him to change his FIR and bring his story in line with the true story, lest the case be found to be false and cancelled.  He refused. Meanwhile, the six Dalits named in the Rajputs’ false FIR, including Kusumi’s husband, are hiding in the village from the police and trying to obtain anticipatory bail.