18 sentenced to life for attacking dalit settlement

Varanasi, Aug 24 (UNI) Eighteen people accused of attacking and burning Dalit hutments 16 years ago were sentenced to life in prison by a special court here today.

Mahant Singh, Tarkeshwar Singh, Shesha Tiwari, Nanhe alias Mandhata Singh, Suresh Mishra, Rangnath Tiwari and Arjun Singh were among the 18 accused sentenced to life in prison by Special Judge (SC/ST) Ali Zamin, for attacking the family of Baiju Lal and later setting ablaze huts in the Dalit settlement of Pratap Patti village under Badagaon police station here on April 16, 1991.

The other lifers included Sharda Mishra, Krishna Mishra, Kamlesh Kumar, Mahendra Mishra, Vijay Kumar, Vijendra Narayan Mishra, Munna Tiwari, Ratan Lal and Onkar Mishra.

According to prosecution, 20 people were accused of attacking the dalit family and burning hutments following a row over the grazing of fields by Baiju's goats.

The accused, all from upper castes were later booked for atrocities against the Dalits, including setting ablaze hutments.

Two of the accused Jitendra Pratap and Sarju, alias Moose Singh, died during the course of trial.

The Special Judge also acquitted eight Dalits, including Baiju in a case of violence filed by the upper caste people for want of evidence.

UNI