Condemn Casteist Killing of Dalit Youth in Uttarakhand
CPIML strongly condemns the casteist murder of a dalit youth in Bhikiasain of Uttarakhand and demands strict action against all the persons responsible for this ‘honour’ killing.
On 1 September 2022 a dalit youth Jagdish Chandra, was killed by his upper caste in-laws in Bhikiasain Tahsil of Almora District because of his inter-caste marriage. Fearing such a murder, the bride had, within a week of her marriage, appealed to the SSP Almora for protection on 27 August 2022, recounting the oppression by her step-father and brother. But the police did not take the matter seriously and ignored it, thus emboldening feudal-casteist elements who ruthlessly killed Jagdish Chandra.
CPIML Nainital District Secretary Dr Kailash Pandey said, "The Almora police and administration are wholly responsible for this murder and casteist violence. After their inter-caste marriage, the girl and the dalit youth Jagdish Chandra repeatedly asked the Almora administration for protection but the police and administration adopted a nonchalant attitude and did not help them, thus emboldening the casteist elements who then killed Jagdish Chandra".
He further said, "under the BJP regime in Uttarakhand, violence, oppression and killing of dalits have been increasing consistently. Dalits are attacked on any pretext: a dalit bridegroom is attacked for sitting on a horse; savarna children refuse to eat food cooked by a dalit Bhojanmata (mid-day meal worker); sometimes a dalit sitting on a chair and having a meal in a 'baraat' becomes the reason for murder. This is extremely shameful and unfortunate".
