Dalit man fights for murdered family

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Keywords: Dalit, Violence

Khairlanjhi (Maharashtra): Bhaiyyalal Bhotmange once had a happy family, but Bhotmange’s wife, a son and daughter were brutally murdered by the upper caste of Khairlanjhi village on September 30.

But even after 38 days of the tragedy Bhotmange is still awaiting justice.

“If I'd been a person in authority or an upper caste person, it wouldn't have taken so long. It's more than a month now and I haven't got justice,” Bhotmange says.

Bhotmange's uprising against the upper caste because of a land dispute cost him the lives of his family.

There have been violent protests, lathicharge and now a CID enquiry that has been initiated to investigate the matter. But the actual perpetuators of the crime are still roaming scot-free.

However, Bhotmange is not alone in his fight for justice. Protests are being held across many regions of Vidharbha in his support.

Protestors in Nagpur turned violent and have set ablaze nearly 30 vehicles in the last two days.

And while indefinite curfew has been imposed in Kamptee region of Nagpur, protestors say they are not ready to end their fight for justice for Bhotmange.

“The accused have not been given any punishment as yet,” says an angry protestor.

But what the police claims is very different from public opinion.

“The investigation has been transferred to the CID on public demand,” says Bhandara SP, Suresh Sagar.

Meanwhile, extra police force has been dispatched to violence-affected areas as the situation in Nagpur and other parts of Vidharbha remains tense.