Geeta (8 years) has been living in the village Ghatoli with her mother and 4 siblings. She lost her father some years ago. Her mother works as a daily wages laborer and thus earns her livelihood. She used to pick wooden sticks for fuel. As per routine, she went to the fields to pick some sticks with her younger brother and sister. While they were going back home, a boy named Shiv Singh came to them and asked Geeta to help him lift his bunch of grass and for this he offered her a rupee. She agreed to help him and sent her brother and sister home. He took her 2-3 fields ahead. When Geeta doubted and tried to run away, the culprit caught her and took her to a distant mustard field. He clutched her mouth with his hand, took out a knife and threatened her that if she shouts, he would kill her with that knife. Then he flung her on the ground, stripped off her clothes and raped her. After that he ran away leaving Geeta in that pitiable state.

Geeta somehow got up and went to her uncle and brother who were playing cricket in the nearby fields. When they saw Geeta in such a pitiable condition, they stood up on the roof of a room built near the well nearby and saw a person running. They identified him as Shiv Singh resident of Nagla Semar, who is living at his grandfather Gopal Gurjar’s home since 3 years. They tried to catch the culprit but were unable in doing so. They went to the place of incident and picked her clothes and slippers from there.

When her uncle took her to police station to lodge FIR against the culprit, police officials denied registering their complaint with an excuse that elections are on head and no in-charge is there at the police station to lodge a complaint and asked them to come next day. Thus next day i.e. on 2^nd February 2010 the report was lodged. Geeta was taken to Government Hospital, Bharatpur but there they denied to examine her and directed her to Zanana Hospital. From there also she was directed to B.M. Hospital. Due to this delay, her medical examination took place at 5:30 pm.

Police did not intervene in the case with seriousness. Police denied registering victim’s complaint with an excuse that elections are on head and no in-charge is present there at the police station to lodge a complaint and asked them to come next day. Police did not inspect the place of incident even after 15 days of incident. Police even failed to provide safety and security to the victim. Police arrested the culprit. Administration did not play an admirable role. No official inspected the incident site even after 15 days. C.O. did not comment on the case. Reader to C.O. said that this may be an allegation due to rivalry among the families because of elections. However, Administration granted the victim a statutory monetary relief of Rs. 50,000/- for which she was eligible and entitled under rule 12(4) of SC/ST (PoA) Act, 1989.

Geeta’s medical was conducted on the next day of incident. The Government Hospital did not examine her and directed her to Zanana Hospital from where again she was directed to B.M. hospital. Her medical took place at 5:30 pm. The medical officer did not give any opinion regarding the occurrence of rape and counted on FSL report. The culprit was arrested. The charge sheet against the culprit was submitted to the court. District court rejected his bail plea, but he was granted bail from High Court, Jaipur. The case is pending for trial in sessions court Bharatpur. Due to this incident, the victim is in trauma. She has confined herself at her home. Till now she has not become normal. She even does not understand what has happened with her. People in the society pinpoint her as the one who has been raped. The case is pending in the session court, Bharatpur for trial.

Brief Details of the Incident:

Ramakrishna (45), R/o. of Thatipaka used to harass Bhupathi Pramela (28), R/o. Thatipaka, as Pramela’s was staying alone since her husband was working in Kuwait. Taking the advantage of her being alone, he often used to come to her house and say “you should come to me, I want you,, if you don’t agree, I will phone your husband and tell him that you have an extra marital relation.” Pramela informed to caste elders, Sarpanch and others and they inturn warned her. Since then Ramakrishna had grudge on her. In the mean time Pramela’s Neighbour Vaddala Naga Lakshmi a mentally imbalanced women had a quarrel with Pramela and caused injuries on head. Subsequently she was arrested and sent away from Thatipaka and the case was settled before Lok Adalat. Lok Adalat has also ordered that since Vaddala Naga Lakshmi is mentally imbalanced, hence any complaint given by her may not be considered. After a year Vaddala Naga Lakshmi, came back to the village and behaved in her usual manner. She threatened Prameela say “I will put this kerosene and set ablaze to your house; I will kill your children”. Scared Pramela went to village elders and narrated the situation. Vaddala Naga Lakshmi logged a complaint against Pramela and she was taken to the Police station. 

Vaddala Naga Lakshmi abused S.I in police station also. Having understood the situation the SI warned Naga Lakshmi’s mother to see that she is given proper treatment and sent them away. Later Naga Lakshmi again went to a hut with kerosene bottle. Suspecting that she will set ablaze to the hut, Nithipudi Naga Lakshmi, M. Nagalakshmi and Pramela together caught Vaddala Naga Lakshmi, tied her hands and phoned police.

Rama Krishna waiting for chance to take revenge against Prameela, he alongwith his wife and daughter abused Prameela and others on the name of caste saying ‘You Mala Lanja, Mala Munda’, questioned them for tying Naga Lakshmi’s hands and set her free. Even Sita w/o Rama Krishna the anganwadi worker used to bring children and get them urinated near Pramela’s house and scold her indirectly. Z.P. Chairperson the resident of the same village and of the same caste always protects the people of his caste against the dalits. He even discriminated Pramela and ensured that she was not allotted house. 

S. Subramani, resident Melvailamur village, Gingee Taluk, Villupuram district, belongs to Dalit paraiyar community. He is working as a Village Assistant in Melmalaiyanur Union. Muniyan belongs to dominant caste hindu vanniyar community, is a resident of Adukkupaasi village, owns a agricultural land in Melvailamur village. He filed a petition seeking pathway to his land via Rajendran agricultural field. But the court has denied the pathway through Rajendran’s land. Again Muniyan filed a petition seeking a pathway to his land. Hence the month of November 2009, Tahsildar, Revenue Inspector, Village Administrative visited the agricultural field to conduct an enquiry regarding this. They made an enquiry with Subramani. Hence he told that Muniyan already have a pathway to his land and shown that to the enquiry team. Investigating officer denied new pathway to Muniyan land. A petition regarding this is still pending with the Tahsildar office.

On 29/01/2010, 6.30 pm while Subramani was returning from the Tahsildar office, Muniyan verbally abused him referring derogatory regarding caste. He intimidated Subrmani and asked why you told that I have already have pathway to my land? When Subramani replied that he told only the truth, Muniyan hit him on his back head and tried to slap him with the slipper. Muniyan managed to escape and returned to home. Kumar of Melvailamur village witnessed this abuse and intimidation.

Subramani filed a complaint with the Avalurpet Police Station regarding this abuse and FIR was registered on 31/01/2010 against the perpetrator and Muniyan was arrested in this regard.

Late Varsha Kumari (09) d/o Raksh Raut r/o Vill- Pashupalan colony, PS- Saharsa in Dist-Saharsa, Bihar a minor Dalit girl, belonging to SC (Dom) community was gang raped because of which she died in the spot.

An accused is in jail and others are absconding. The case is under trial in the Court in Sahrsa. Compensation R. 75000 is given to the survivors.  

Thiyahavalli Panchayat is in Kurunjipaadi Taluk, Cuddaore District. This panchayat comprises of 12 villages. Dalits are in majority in this panchayat. All these villages lack adequate transport and drinking water facilities. Most of the villagers travels to Cuddalore or Poondiankuppam for their livelihood and education purpose. There are only two government buses during the morning hours one at 8am and 10am. Due to lack of bus frequency, buses will be crowded all the time. Whenever students and daily workers misses the bus, they have to go by the boat crossing Uppalaru river to reach their destination or they miss their studies and job.

On 27/01/2010, students from Nandhan Nagar and Vallalar nagar misses the 8 am bus. Hence 40 people from these two villages with the majority of students boarded a boat to cross Uppalaru river. Students operated the boat themselves. In the midst of the crossing, due to over crowd, the boat overturned in the river. All the people fell in to the river and they cried for help. On hearing the cry, people from Sangalakuppam village rescued them and took them to the hospital. Some of the students sustained severe injury. Since they drank the water during the boat overture, students fell ill and had vomiting problem. Again the victims were sent to Cuddalore Government Hospital, for medical assistance.

Villagers of the Thiyahavalli Panchayat filed many petitions with the district administration seeking provision of adequate transport facilities, construction of a bridge over the Uppalaru river and to provide drinking water facilities. But the District Administration is negligent to fulfill the demands of the people. Accidents and pregnancy deaths are quite common in these villages due to lack of proper bus facilities.