Saravanan (22), belongs to Dalit Arunthathiyar Community, is a resident of Kottaimedu, Perundurai, Erode District. He is working in a T-shirt production company. On 17/01/2011, he went to Perundurai Bus stand to buy Color Ginger, for his Cousin’s medical purpose. When he asked the shop owner for the ginger, he shown his hand and asked to take it. Since the ginger was kept in the ground, there were some sand stains in it. Hence he cleaned it from taking water from the water pot kept outside the shop. On seeing this the shop owner objected to that, saying that you are not suppose use the water. In reply, Saravanan said, that he is not getting it for free and he paying money for that. Being infuriated the Shop owner, bugger! Sakkilia thoyoli how dare you to use the water and objecting my words. Saying so, he beaten him with his hand. On hearing the noise, Sridhar who is working as a teacher, verbally abused him and referred derogatory regarding caste, and beaten him with the stick on his back. Other two relatives of the shop owner assaulted him. When all the four were assaulting Saravanan, dalit members reached the place of atrocity and asked the reason for the assault. In the midst Police reached the place of incident and advised to give a complaint to the police station.

On the same day evening, the perpetrators filed a false complaint. Hence the victim with the help of Viduthalai Chiruthaihal Katchi (VCK), lodged a complaint with the Perundurai Police Station. He was sent to the Erode Government Hospital for medical treatment. Police have not arrested the culprits.   

Sunita Devi w/o late Shikandar Baitha is resident of Chakfateh village under Mahuwa police station in Vaishali Dist. belongs to Dhobi (SC) community. 

Sunita Devi was one of the members of SHG of the village. On 16/01/2011, while Sunita Devi was attending Self Help Group (SHG) meeting, the accused persons Santlal Singh s/o late Jawahar, Surendra Singh s/o Late Kamal went to the hall and abused her in caste name over distribution of SHG amount. The accused persons dragged her out, striped her and beat mercilessly. The attendees of the meeting rescued her and took the incident under control.

A case was registered in Mahuwa police station on 16/01/2011 against the abusers as  No. 12/11, u/s 341, 323, 504, 354, 379 IPC & 3(1) (x) of SC/ST (PoA) Act., The perpetrators are on run now. None of the perpetrator is arrested in this case. The victim has not received any compensation from the administration. Charge sheet is not filed.

Legal Standard Breached:

1.       Voluntarily causing hurt to and assault or another person is an offence Sec.323 of IPC 342,355, 326, 327, 34 of IPC
2.       A person, who is not a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, who intentionally insults or intimidates with intent to humiliate a member of a Scheduled Caste in any place of public view, is guilty of an offence [sec. 3(1)(x) of SC/ST (PoA) Act].
3.       Whoever, being a public servant but not being a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, willful neglects his/her duties required to be performed by him/her under the Act, is guilty of an offence [sec. 4 SC/ST (PoA) Act].
4.       Everyone has the right of life, liberty and security of person [Art. 3 UDHR and Art. 5(b) CERD].
5.        No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment –Art 5 UDHR & Art 7 ICCPR.
6.       General recommendation 19 of CEDAW relates to gender-based violence and recommends amongst other things that states should take all legal and other measures that are necessary to provide effective protection of women against gender-based violence including effective legal measures (including penal sanctions), preventive measures (including public information and education programs) and protective measures. 

Mr. Tower Murugan, resident of Nampiur, Gopichettipalayam Taluk, Erode District. a Dalit activist, was stabbed with a knife in his hand by two dominant caste hindu Nadar youths. Mr. Murugan, a social activist, fighting against untouchability practice practiced by the Nadar community. Hence some of Nadar youths  developed aversion about his activities and involvement in Dalit freedom.

On 14/01/2011, around 11pm he was pasting Digital Posters in Nampiur Bus stand, on his own intiative, in celeberation of Thiruvalluvar year 2042, Viduthalai Chiruthaihal Year 2011 and the New year 2011. After finishing the work, he went to drink water from the nearby Public Drinking water tape. But he obstructed by Bandh Periyasamy and Rowdy Palanisamy, saying that dalits were not allowed to drink water from this tape. When Murugan objected this denial, both men stabbed him with a knife on his hand.  On 15/01/2011, he went to the Nampiur police station, to lodge a complaint. Instead of registering  the complaint and taking action against the perpetrators, Nampiur Police Officials, threatened him that they will book him under Goondas Act. Hence Murugan returned without pressing for charges and justice. He was not provided any monetary relief and medical treatment.

Brief details of the Incident:      

Shapuram Hemalatha (19) SC, Madiga by caste is the daughter of Lingayya. She is the native of Peddamangalaram village and is a daily agricultural worker. In search of work she used to go to Shapur daily. Dayakar Reddy of Shapur used to send a Tractor daily to fetch the workers and Hemalatha used to go in that vehicle daily. Dayakar Reddy seduced Hemalatha and eloped with her on 13.1.2011. Ultimately she became pregnant. The parents of Hemalatha lodged a complaint in Moinabad PS. knowing about the incident, Dayakar’s wife lodged a complaint against her husband. Having come to know about the developments Dayakar Reddy brought back Hemalatha and has promised to marry her in front of the police. Based on the complaints, Dayakar was sent for remand. As Hemalatha was minor, she was placed in KGBV Home in Hyderabad. Later she delivered a girl child. Later on Hemalatha’s mother has committed suicide due to the harassment of the caste elders for compromise. At present Hemalatha is staying with her old father. Dayakar Reddy is staying with his wife and children. 

Chabathina Mounica(18) is the daughter of Vijay and is the resident of Mandavalli (Mandal), Krishna District. She is studying II Year B Tech in NIMRA Engineering College at Vijayawada. Mudraboyana Francis (23) s/o Subba Rao alias Sudharshanam is the resident of Ingilampakalanka, Mandavalli (M), Krishna Dist. Francis is studying IV Year B.Tech in Koneru Lakshmaiah Engineering College, Vijayawada. Francis parents and their relatives run many Churches. Mounica and Francis are friends for years together. In the year 2007, while Mounica was in 10^th standard, Francis took her on his bike to his house at Ingilampakalanka and forcibly had sexual intercourse in his room on the first floor. Having heard the cries of Mounica, the parents and grandfather of Francis consoled her and requested her not to reveal to her parents and promised the marriage with Francis. On the pretext of marriage he sexually exploited her continuously and often used not to respond whenever Mounica insisted for marriage. 

In November 2010, having come to know that Francis’s parents were looking for marriage alliance to him, Mounica asked his parents and they denied for the marriage saying she belongs to SC community and also are of lower financial status. Mounica informed the same to her parents. In the first week of Dec 2010 the parents of Mounica met the parents of Francis along with caste elders and asked for the marriage. The parents of Francis replied that having sexual relation is not a big matter at all, she belongs to a lower caste and therefore she doesn’t have the status for marrying their son. When the caste elders scolded them, they said that they will put the matter in prayer and requested for some time. As there was no reply from them, on 06/01/2011 the parents of Mounica arranged for mediation at mediator’s house, in which the caste elders and parents & relatives of Francis have participated. During this mediation, Francis accepted that he has sexually exploited Mounica, but has not accepted to marry her as she belongs to scheduled caste. The parents and the caste elders of Francis have said that they are prepared to give some money, but not marriage. The parents of Francis even abused the caste elders on the name of caste. In a helpless situation Mounica approached DSS and lodged a complaint. FIR was registered in Mandavalli P.S with Cr. No 4/2011, U/S 376,420, 417, 506 r/w 34 of IPC and Sec 3(1)(X) of SC/ST (PoA) Act 1989.