''Cases of excesses against Dalits high in Punjab''

Phagwara, Jan 15 (PTI) Expressing concern over the"dismal" state of Dalits in Punjab, the newly-appointedVice-President of National Commission for Scheduled Castes RajKumar Verka tonight said a high number of complaints againstatrocities on Dalits have been received in the state.

"We have received 12,000 complaints in the countryregarding excesses against Dalits and out of these mostcomplaints related to Punjab, Haryana and UP. In Punjab alone,there were 668 such complaints," he told reporters here.

"Punjab''s record on Dalits is dismal and there is not asingle Dalit SSP in the state," Verka alleged.

He said the Commission will enquire into allegations ofdiversion of funds meant for Dalits'' welfare towards elevationof roads and other projects in the state.

Referring to the recent petition filed in a Kerala courtalleging that former CJI K G Balakrishanan''s brother K GBhaskaran and son-in-law Sreenijan had amassed wealthdisproportionate to their assets during his tenure as CJI,Verka alleged there was a conspiracy to tarnish Balakrishnan''simage as he was a Dalit.

"We will take strong note of this conspiracy to malignthe former CJI and NHRC Chairman," Verka said.