Dalit atrocities increase four times in Rajasthan: NGO

Jaipur, Dec 14 (UNI) A NGO fighting for Dalit rights has claimed that atrocities against Dalits have increased four times in the state as opposed to state Home Minister's statement of decline in the atrocities against these sections.

State Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria had recently affirmed that the state government's decision to appoint case officers for disposal of matters relating to Scheduled Castes and Tribes had led to a decline in the atrocities against Dalits.

The NGO, Centre for Dalit Rights (CDR), has refuted the claim saying that the cases of atrocities have increased four times, most of which are not lodged with the police.

CDR's chairperson P L Mimroth said the police does not pursue impartial investigations into the lodged cases and the cases which eventually reach the court are made very weak. The special public prosecutors ultimately benefit the victimiser rather than the Dalit victim, he added.

Mr Kataria, had, however, claimed that the state had registered a two-fold increase in the convictions under the SC/ST Act following efforts made by the special cells established in 18 districts for speedy investigation and trial.

Mr Mimroth said according to official figures, Rajasthan is second in terms of atrocities on Dalits but the state government has not declared the sensitive areas as 'Dalit atrocity prone' as prescribed under Rule 3 under SC/ST (Atrocity Abolition) Act 1989.

The state received Rs 2.10 crore in 2006 for the prevention of such crimes but it has not spent a single penny in this direction, Mr Mimroth added.

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