Village tense after attack on Dalits

Phagwara, Oct 4 (UNI) Tension today gripped Chak Saboo village when eight members of Dalit community sustained serious injuries in an alleged attack by the Jat community members in the village near here last evening.

According to reports received here, Dalits were holding religious congregation in Guru Ravidas Gurdwara when some inebriated members of the Jat community passed derogatory remarks and used abusive language about their religion leading to a clash between the two communities.

The Dalits alleged that they were attacked with some sharp-edged weapons and sticks, leaving eight of their men hospitalised.

''We were holding religious congregation here in the village Gurdwara which was not liked by the Jats and they started abusing us. There were some altercations too between the two communities,'' alleged Rachna Rani, a woman Sarpanch of the village.

It was learnt that the police team led by ASI Jagan Nath reached the spot immediately on getting information about the clash and took control of the situation from further deterioration.

Sarpanch Rachna Rani told UNI that this was the third attack on the Dalit community by the Jats within a year. ''We were holding religious congregation when four Jat youths, identified as Charanjit Singh, Pindi, Jarnail Singh and Jatinder, who were under the influence of some intoxicants, started passing derogatory remarks on the 'sevadars' of the Gurdwara and attacked our men with sharp-edged weapons and sticks, seriously injuring them,'' alleged Rachna Rani.

The police have registered a case against four Jat youths for an attempt on life of the Dalits and hurting their religious sentiments, police here said.

UNI XC PS MQA HS1435