Bheem Army chief on hunger strike against dalit harassment

MEERUT: Bheem Army chief Chandrashekhar who is lodged in Saharanpur jail, began indefinite hunger strike on Saturday to protest against alleged implication of dalits in false cases following recent violence during ‘Bharat Bandh’.

Bheem Army’s Saharanpur district president Kamal Singh Walia said Chandrashekhar decided to go on indefinite hunger strike to oppose atrocities against dalits. “He was upset and pained over implication of dalits in false cases,” said Walia and added that Chandrashekhar has demanded to withdraw cases against dalits.

A delegation of Bheem Army office-bearers which included Delhi coordinator Sanjeev Bandh, Delhi incharge advocate Sujeet Samrat and patron Balakram Baudh met Chandrashekhar in Saharanpur jail on Friday.

They briefed him about dalit protests, police action against dalits and discussed strategy of the Bheem Army in this regard.

Walia claimed that Bheem Army officials and Chandrashekhar had informed about the decision of staging hunger strike to the jail superintendent.

However, Viresh Raj, superintendent of Saharanpur Jail, denied having received any letter regarding such information. “I have not received any such intimation,” he said.

To recall, the Bheem Army came into limelight in May last year when its activists and leaders blamed police and administration of being biased in initiating action against the accused of caste violence in Shabbeerpur and Sarak Doodhli villages of Saharanpur.

Army declared to convene a Dalit Mahapanchayat to raise the issue but administration denied permission for the mahapanchayat which led to widespread violence.

A DELEGATION OF BHEEM ARMY MET CHANDRASHEKHAR IN SAHARANPUR JAIL AND APPRISED HIM ABOUT ATROCITIES ON DALITS