Cong to probe burning of dalits in MP

Bhopal, Mar 6 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee has appointed observers to inquire into two young Dalits being burnt alive in Jabalpur and Sagar districts and submit a report at the earliest.

''District Congress President (Rural) Vishnu Shankar Patel will probe the Jabalpur incident while Surkhi's legislator Govind Singh Rajput and former Congress state Vice-President Arunoday Choubey will inquire into the Sagar incident,'' said a Congress release issued here today.

Sagar's Shahgarh-resident Vineeta (18) was teased by Jaggi, Kallu, Manoj and Prajapati on the afternoon of March 3. When she protested, the foursome doused her with kerosene and set her alight.

The victim was admitted to the district hospital.

Police said a case was registered for attempt to murder and violating the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Two people were taken into custody for questioning.

Six people were arrested on March 3 for burning alive a 17-year-old at Jabalpur's Sihora after she resisted a sexual assault.

Sihora-resident Pooja Chaudhry was returning home from a market on Sunday when Ameerchand Vanshkar and another person grabbed her, took her to their home and attempted a sexual assault. Pooja escaped their clutches, reached home and reported the matter to relatives who reached Vanshkar's residence and thrashed Dulichand.

Sometime later, Vanshkar, Dulichand and six others reached Pooja's home, doused her with kerosene and set it alight. She died on the spot. Two of the accused are absconding.

UNI Team-AC SY AS2049