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Case posted by | Ambedkar Lohia Vichar Manch |
Case code | OD-ALVM-CTC-006-2016 |
Case year | 24-Mar-2016 |
Type of atrocity | Intentionally insults or intimidates with intent to humiliate |
Whether the case is being followed in the court or not? | No |
Fact finding date | Not recorded |
Case incident date | 24-Mar-2016 |
Place | Village: Not recorded Taluka:Not recorded District: Cuttack District(DP) State: Odisha |
Police station | Mahanga |
Complaint date | 30-Mar-2016 |
FIR date | 28-Apr-2016 |
Pasulunda is a village under Mahanga P.S. in Cuttack district. As a part of the religious and cultural practice, during Dola Purnima the Idols of different Sahis move in procession to different parts of the village and assemble in a big field for final celebration of the function. The practice is called \\\'Melana\\\' and the field is called Melana Padia. In the village meeting it is decided which Idol will start procession at what time and the order of Idols for procession and position in the Melana Padia.
This year on 24.03.2016 the function was celebrated in Pasulunda Village. The dalit sahi Idol was moving in procession as per the earlier decision. At that time a procession of the upper caste Idol came on that road. As per the standard practice the procession which came from behind should have maintained the order and the dalitsahi Idol should have proceeded ahead of the other. But the upper caste people did not stay behind and asked the dalits to give way. The dalits did not give way to the upper caste procession. This enraged the upper castes and some of them abused and threatened the dalits and took another route to the Melana Padia.
Later the 5 members from dalit community were summoned to a caste meeting of upper caste persons from Pasulunda and nearby 7 villages. In the meeting the timing of the Dola Melana procession of Idol of dalitsahi was changed from 1 P.M. to 4 P.M. Althouhg only 5 old persons represented dalits in the meeting, they disragreed with the change of time and requested to stick to the old timing of the procession. The upper caste persons verbally abused and threatened to attack the dalits in their houses and forced to sign the village meeting agreement. There was marked tension between the communities and Bijay Kumar Jena lodged complaint in Mahanga P.S. on behalf of the dalits on 30.03.2016.
The complaint by the dalits was not registered by the police. The dalit came to ALVM with the matter. A team from ALVM along with some dalit villagers met the Superintendent of Police, Cuttack (Rural) and after his intervention FIR was registered as Mahanga P.S case No. 0083 on dated 28.04.2016.