Son of sarpanch, 5 others booked for Dalits’ boycott

DEEP RIFT SGPC orders an inquiry as the announcement to boycott the community came from the Mansa gurdwara

MANSA:: A case under SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities act) 1989 has been registered against six persons including the son of the sarpanch of Khiva Dialuwala village on Monday, after upper caste families allegedly boycotted Dalits in their village.

Announcements urging the boycott were made through loud speakers in the village’s gurdwara, videos of which have gone viral on many social media platforms.

The accused include Ghudar Singh–son of village Sarpanch, Baljeet kaur, Buta Singh–a panchayat member, Sukhpal Singh, Gulaab Singh, Kaka Singh and Nirbhai Singh.

Chief of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) Gobind Singh Longowal expressed concern about the announcement of boycott from the village gurdwara. He said, “SGPC will chair a meeting on the issue and send preachers to the village to address the matter. I will ask for an enquiry based on the report.”

The boycott springs from an incident that took place on September 5, when a 6-yr-old Dalit boy was injured after being hit by a motorcycle in a road accident on September 5. The child is being treated at PGI in Chandigarh.

Deputy commissioner Mansa, Apneet Riyait, said, “After an administration committee was formed to address the issue, both communities have arrived at a compromise. They have solved their differences and the complainant has decided to withdraw the case.”

Regarding the case registered against the accused bigwigs of the village, the DC said, “Based on the compromise, we will see if the FIR can be cancelled or not.”

Rantu Singh, father of the 6-year-old who was injured said, “I know nothing about the compromise between the two communities. How can Ramdasia community, who were boycotted after my son’s accident, be ready for a compromise?”

Fakaria Singh, the child’s grandfather is the complainant in the FIR registered in the case under Prevention of Atrocities act against the six upper-caste persons.

Rantu added, “I have heard that the district administration has assured to pay for the treatment.”

The DC confirmed this saying that the administration has offered them financial help .

Both communities have arrived at a compromise and the complainant will withdraw the case. APNEET RIYAIT, deputy commissioner Mansa How can Ramdasia community, who were boycotted after my son’s accident, be ready for a compromise? RANTU SINGH, father of 6-yr-old who was injured