Allow us to commit suicide, say Dalits
India: Madurai, January, 10: Three Dalit families, whose members were bonded labourers in Madhya Pradesh, have approached the Madurai District Collector for permission to commit suicide after their failure to get the pattas of the land allotted by the government at Keelayur in Madurai. They were not granted the pattas for the land, as they could not pay a bribe of Rs 5,000 to the authorities, it was alleged. In a petition submitted to the Collector, A Gurusamy of Rengasamipuram in Melur taluk sought permission for the families to commit suicide in front of the Melur Taluk office. The petition said that Gurusamy, his brother Raman and another Raman were granted 5.95 acres of land at Keelayur in Madurai, 23 years ago, under the Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act. But they were not granted the pattas for the land, as they could not pay a bribe of Rs 5,000, the petition alleged. As they had no other means of livelihood, they sought permission to commit suicide.