Gujarat Dalits targeted for demanding water; houses vandalised, pregnant women not spared #WTFnews

Dalit rights NGO Navsarjan Trust director Manjula Pradeep, who visited the village on November 2, found the entire locality, called “Dhedh vado” by dominant caste persons in contempt, in a state of fear. “Dhed vado” is a derogatory phrase used for Dalits by persons of dominant castes in Gujarat, which means “very dirty, unhealthy, place”; filth, dirt”, to quote from a Gujarati-English dictionary. Mandavia village is situated in Matar taluka of Kheda district, one of the richest in India.
Pradeep said, on her visit to Malavada’s Vankar Vas, as the locality is officially identified, she found that the mob did not spare any of the 60 households. “Around 600 dominant caste people led by the dominant caste sarpanch and her husband took page in the attack. The attack was to create a sense of fear amongst the Dalits who dare to speak out against untouchability practices, discrimination in access to water”, she pointed out.
During the attack, she said, “the dominant castes defiled the well which the Dalits were using to draw water for everyday usage. Innocent Dalits, both old and young, were attacked. Their window panes which were of glass were destroyed. The bicycles, utensils, motorbike, sewing machines, chairs, etc were destroyed. Their property was looted. Some of the Dalit families have fled the village”, Pradeep complained.

“Even pregnant and lactating mothers were not spare. An old woman who could not get up from the cot was beaten up. It was a chaos led loose, and I was moved by seeing the tears and pain in the eyes of women, girls, children, men and youth”, she said, even as pointing towards police indifference towards the incident: “The Limbasi police station is just two-and-a-half kilometres away, yet the police came only after one and half hour of the attack.”
“The village head and her husband and the deputy village head along with other accused absconded, though were later arrested and released on bail”, she said, wondering, “It is a shame that in such a gruesome incident, how can the accused be released on bail?”
Calling it “a challenge” for the Dalits as well as her NGO Navsarjan Trust, the top activist said, We will ensure that bail of the accused is cancelled by the High Court, and the accused village head and deputy village head are suspended from their positions and the Dalits of Malavada village can live with peace.”