Dalits, Thakurs clash after row over open defecation, 7 arrested

TWO DALIT WOMEN REACHED THE FIELDS TO RELIEVE THEMSELVES WHERE THEY HAD A DISPUTE WITH 4 OTHER UPPER CASTE WOMEN

Seven people were arrested on Friday after Dalits and Thakurs clashed following a dispute over the place for open defecation in Chamroli village under Nibohara police station in Agra.

In-charge of Nibohara police station Raghuraj Singh said seven people had been booked under Section 151 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) for disturbing peace in the region.

Singh said two Dalit women reached the fields at 10 pm on Thursday to relieve themselves where they had a dispute over the place for defecation with four other women from the upper caste, who also reached there at the same time.

“One group asked the other to relieve themselves on the side of the crops so the pathway remains clean. This led to a verbal duel between them,” Singh said. “The women went back to the village and informed the men of their families. Both the groups clashed with each other,” he added.

Instead of informing the police about the matter, a group reached the camp office of the district magistrate at 2am on Friday and staged a demonstration. On Friday morning, the police reached the village and arrested seven people belonging to both the communities. The village has a mixed population of Thakurs and Dalits.