GUWAHATI:
Four years after the incident, Assam Police on February 14 registered the first case of atrocities against Schedule Caste (SC) people following a directive of the National Commission for Schedule Caste (NCSC).
The case was registered in Narayanpur police station vide case No 17/23 under section 447/143/294/324/427 read with section 3C of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
“Director General of Police GP Singh has directed the district police superintendent to register an FIR against 19 people in connection with a case on atrocities against an SC woman in Lakhimpur district. The move was initiated after a meeting of the commission with the state police force. We took up the case based on a complaint filed by an NGO,” NCSC vice-chairman Arun Haldar told the media.
“This was the first case reported to the Commission on atrocities against S/ST people. We hope the police will take action based on the provisions of the law,” Haldar said.
Describing the incident, Assam Anushito Jati Yuva Chatra Sangstha president Nripan Das said: “The incident took place on December 22, 2019, at Narayanpur in Lakhimpur district. But the police did not register the case even as the victim woman has complained about them.”
“19 people entered her house and beat her up mercilessly. The woman fled towards the paddy field. But the miscreants chased her and caught her and tied her in a light post and assaulted her mercilessly.
“Her husband Dilip Das was not at home at the time of the incident as he was a government servant. Later they brought her to Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur stating that she was mentally sick. But the doctors of the hospital discharged her from the hospital stating that she bore no symptom of mental illness but had severe head injuries which needed proper treatment.
“The gang had threatened the family to leave the village. The incident has forced them to leave the place and stay in a rented accommodation in North Lakhimpur. The incident took place only because the family purchased a piece of land in Narayanpur. All the gang members were higher caste people and they did want the family to stay in the village.
“A complaint was lodged in Narayanpur police station. But the police did not register the case. The case was also taken up in the meeting of the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee in August 2020 and the deputy commissioner, who is the chairman, assured of a proper investigation of the case. But the administration did not take up the case and no meeting was convened thereafter.
Das also alleged that the SP turned down the matter many times.
“But today, when NCSC VC held a meeting with us, we pointed out the case and he immediately directed the DGP to register the FIR. Accordingly, the case was registered,” Das said.
More than 4,000 cases of atrocities on SC people were reported to the Commission in the last two years, and 60 per cent of the cases were disposed of.
“Many cases have not been reported to us because of a lack of awareness of the people on the commission and the Act. We urge all NGOs to guide these people and take the case to the commission,” Haldar said.
“There is also confusion among some police officers that the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was repealed by the Central government. The Supreme Court in March 2020 passed a judgment that diluted the Act. But the government once again amended and enacted the Act. It is still in force,” Haldar also said.
Haldar held a meeting with Assam chief secretary Paban Kumar Barthakur and DGP GP Singh to discuss various issues related to SC people.
Haldar also held a meeting with the North East Regional Office of the State Bank of India (SBI) to review the reservation roster and disbursement of loans to the people of the SC community in the region.