Jagaran Media Center (JMC)
E-bulletin: Issue No. 8, Date: 26 December 2005

Series of rape of Dalit women of same district

Within the last 6 months, eight Dalit women and children have been raped at Badaharmala, Karjanha, Kalabanjar and Bhokraha of the Siraha district. Many of them have been killed after being raped.

These crimes have been committed by people who identify themselves as either Maoists or cadres of Terai Janatantrik Mukti Morcha (TJMM) (In English - Terai Democratic Liberation Front). They both appeared with arms.

Though the Maoists district leadership has said that they would take action against its cadres if they are found involved in such acts but nothing has been revealed yet.

One armed person who was captured by the locals during the rape was taken by the Maoists for action but he was freed without any punishment, thus the locals are furious with the Maoists. The rapist had admitted that he was involved with the TJMM.

The incidents of rape are so cruel that even a single woman has been gang raped by as many as 12 people and then killed by chopping her head. At places underage girls have been raped and threatened that their whole family would be destroyed if the incident was revealed. Even pregnant women and children were not spared and were also killed after rape. At some places they were raped in front of their parents and husband.

During the mid of May 2005, Jamuni Kapar of Badaharmala was gang raped and then killed. It was on the mid of June 2005 when child Dibya Paswan of Karjnha was gang raped. This tragic incident forced her family to be displaced from their birth place due to threats and insecurity.

Similarly, on 6 October 2005, a pregnant woman from the same place named Laxmi Shah was raped and later she was cut into pieces while she was cutting grass. On 27 October 2005, Rukmini Sada was raped in front of her husband, who was tied with ropes. On 6 November 2005, an old man Arjun raped a 10-year old Nathuni Paswan. He was taken by the Maoists for action but was released without any punishment.

Aditi Paswan of Karjhanha VDC whose granddaughter was raped by an unknown group and Jagat Paswan of Kalabanjar whose wife was raped by such unknown armed group; both made various attempts to the society for justice at a meeting.

Still such crime continues at the places of the poor Dalit women of the District. On 22 November 2005, 3 women of Bhokraha were raped in front of their parents.

The administration has kept mum over such heinous crimes committed by different groups in a short period of time as if nothing has gone wrong. The villagers, however, are trying to defend their victims but they are unable to fight with the armed groups.

The victims are neither been compensated nor provided any treatment. The locals themselves have been engaged for the treatment of the women and children who have been raped. Locals said that the cases have been more complicated because the group identify themselves as either Maoists or TJMM cadres.

A retaliation committee has been formed under the leadership of Kashindar Makhaita of Karjanha to protect the women and children from the armed group of rapist and the committee also proposed to talk with the Maoists.

(Names of the victims have been changed for social security of the victims.)
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Dalit tortured, alleged murder case to displace him from the village

Being a Dalit, Jeet Bahadur Biswokarma of Saidha VDC-7 of Dang district has been alleged with a murder case in order to displace him from the village, which he never committed. His belongings have also been sold and his house has been destroyed completely.

His wife and 11-year old daughter have nowhere to go and are forced to seek refuge at the neighbor’s place.

The conflict begun on the 30 September 2005 in the evening 6.30 pm after Jeet Bahadur refused to give the drum (dhyangro) used in the ritual while treating the sick people, when the people from the Gharti community asked him the drum. He had refused to give the drum claiming that the ritual does not allow playing the drum without chanting mantras. But the Gharti people grabbed and damaged the drum.

Then the locals attacked all the members of the family with stones, wooden sticks (lathis) and even catapult. Jeet Bahadur even said that he was hit by a stone with the help of catapult. Both his wife and daughter were also thrashed and were kept locked throughout the night without food and water.

The next day not only the Gharti community but all the villagers attacked him. He was insulted among the villagers putting black smoke on his face.

The local administration treated him as guilty and was charged with murder case. He was later sent to jail.

This incident indicated that the non-Dalit communities have been involved in the oppression to the Dalits in a planned manner. And even the administration is with them. Local intellectuals, therefore, comment that national and international human rights activists should make fair investigation on these incidents of the worst from of human rights violations and provide justice to the victims besides creating pressure for the compensation.
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Dalits penalized for entering temple

3 Dalits Lattar Ram, Badri Marik and Om Prakash Mehta of Saptari districts have been ordered to pay Rs. 5,000 each by a group of non-dalits for entering temple of Ram , Bhagwati and Hanuman.

Hundreds of Dalits entered these temples of Patthar Gada VDC-3 of Saptari district last Saturday, i.e. in the 24 December 2005. And as a result of which, local non-dalits of this VDC asked them to pay Rs. 5,000 each to purify temple and were also asked to catch their ears in a public forum. Group of non-dalits have also threatened that if they do not pay this amount by today, the Monday, then their animals will be sold forcefully to cover this amount. It was informed in a Press Conference organized by these victims yesterday.

President of Nepal Bar Association – Saptari district along with local Human Rights defenders have visited the place and have showed their seroius concern in the issue. They have also appealed government for justice of the victims.
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Marriage arranged between Dalit and non-Dalit

A Chhetri (so called upper caste) Madan Khatri of Bansbari Pharping married with a Dalit girl Laxmi Achhami of Baneswor on 10 December 2005. Probably the first of its kind, it was an arranged marriage.

Madan's father Bishnu Bahadur Khatri has completed 75 golden years and mother Maili Khatri is 56. This couple has made an example in the society by marrying a girl from so-called Dalit community.

"Now time has changed. Caste is not the matter of concern," Bishnu Bahadur Khatri commented despite of the problems he faced from the society. Nobody from his locality helped him in the marriage ceremony. They have begun back-biting his family instead. Madan's elder sister Manju Khatri admitted that the society have been backbiting the family after the marriage.

After their marriage, the newly wed couple has received strong support from the family though the society is not in favor of them. All the members of the family have taken it as a victory over the existing traditional attitude of the society. Madan's elder brother Shyam Khatri said this is a strong slap to those who have been ignoring the fact that the caste-based discrimination is a crime. With full support from the family the couple seems fully confident over their future. This incident has encouraged people to begin change from home.
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Dalit's land merged in the land of a school

The land owned by Mrs Dama Devi Nepali, 68, of Geta VDC-3 of Kailali District since 1984 A.D. has been included in the name of Ghateswor Primary School of Geta, Kailali. Nepali had come to Geta from Thalawar of Bajhang. Her land registration number 60 has been merged with the schools land numbering 59.

The Sukumbasi Ayog (Commission for the landless people) provided her with the ownership of the land numbering 54 and 60 in 2002 but they did not provide her with the landownership certificate.

She said she was unaware of the establishment of the school at her land. She has been using one and half bigha of land since last 22 years.

Victim Mohan Nepali said he was also unaware when the land was measured. He came to know on 30 October 2005 when the school begun to cover its areas with the wires. "The president of the school management committee Purna Raj Bhatta has claimed that the land has already been merged in the name of the school," Nepali said adding that he was using the land and could not give it to the school.

However, the Land Revenue Office said no official from the office has been authorized for the measurement. Without informing the owner of the land it was merged with the land of the school. Victim Nepali has demanded the organizations including Regional Dalit Network (RDN) to register the land in his name.
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Source: Jagaran Media Center (JMC), Anamnagar, P. O. Box: 19619 Kathmandu Nepal
E-mail: info@jagaranmedia.org.np Tel: + 977-1-4226655, Fax: + 977-1-4256780, www.jagaranmedia.org.np