The state government’s decision to intervene comes in the backdrop of mounting pressure from social groups
The state government is consulting legal experts to find out if its appeal in the Supreme Court in the Khairlanji case can ensure capital punishment to the six accused, who had perpetrated the heinous crime. Chief minister Ashok Chavan on Monday held a meeting with Dalit leaders to reiterate the state’s unhappiness over the high court’s decision to award the six accused life sentence instead of capital punishment.
The state’s decision to intervene comes in the backdrop of mounting pressure from social groups, who are questioning the role of the Democratic Front government in the Khairlanji case.
The case, which was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), saw the lower court awarding death sentence to the six accused. But, the high court converted the capital punishment into life sentence.
The lone survivor of the Khairlanji killings, Bhaiyalal Bhotmange, had decided to fight the battle single-handed and go in appeal to the Supreme Court. Dalit leaders including ministers from across the state had rallied around him and decided to seek support from the state government.
Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) president Prakash Ambedkar said, “The fact that the high court converted the capital punishment to life sentence highlights the shoddy work done by the state government and the CBI. Concrete evidences were deliberately withheld, or not placed before the court.” Dalit leaders had questioned as to why the accused were not booked under the atrocities act and charged with intent to rape even after evidence of the brutal killing of Bhotmange’s daughter and wife was found.
At the meeting, Chavan also expressed concern over rising incidents of attack against Dalits and other backward castes across the state. The chief minister indicated that an autonomous body on the lines of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) should be set-up to study and ascertain the reasons behind such incidents.
Minister for dairy development Nitin Raut said, “We have to take concrete steps to ensure Khairlanji never happens again. The attack on Dalits can’t go unreported.”
According to Congress spokesperson Hussain Dalwai, often the Dalits become soft target because of caste prejudices and patronage from police department.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}