A Dalit sarpanch, is battling for life after being attacked by upper-caste Marathas, on questioning upper-caste Marathas over water diversion.
According to police the “ Dalit sarpanch Datta Haribhau Kamble, 48, of Umra village in Parbhani district a region of Marathwada asked the upper-caste Maratha community not to divert the drinking water meant for cattle to their fields, thinking scorching summer sun demands that the cattle are provided with enough drinking water”.
When he told them to stop taking away water meant for cattle, they became agitated and assaulted him with spades and an axe, and left him on ground. A Dalit rights organization helped the family shift Sarpanch to an ICU in a private facility as the local civil hospital was ill-equipped to take care of the serious gash on the head caused by the axe blow.
“Upper caste Marathas always wanted to dominate over us. In 2011, when the ‘sarpanch post’ in our village became a reserved seat, community elders picked my husband as candidate; but ever since, our family members, including children, have been facing taunts, hooks and insults. I always feared for his safety and now my fears have come true,” said Sarpanch’s wife.
According to Doctors who are monitoring Sarpanch, admit he is in a very critical condition. “We will only be able to say whether he will make it after another 24 hours of observation.”
Though local police have registered an FIR against the accused under the Prevention of Atrocities Act for the life-threatening assault, yet none of them have been arrested or even detained.
Interestingly, the police have registered a cross-complaint by the accused which claims Haribhau were attacked for attempting a dacoity. “Why would a sarpanch attempt a dacoity in his own village at 7.30 am?” asked Ganpat, a member of dalit organization.
According to him, the Upper caste family has been terrorising Dalits in the village to withdraw the complaint threatening of dire consequences. “They have said that other Dalit families will have to pay the price if any of their family members is picked up by the police” said Sarpanch son.