The Dalit leadership in the state and the government on Monday expressed shock and disappointment at the Khairlanji verdict
The Dalit leadership in the state and the government on Monday expressed shock and disappointment at the Khairlanji verdict, especially acquittal of three accused and not finding a casteist bias.
Home minister RR Patil said, “The state government would urge the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to appeal to ascertain if something could be done to ensure those found guilty were awarded stringent punishment.”
The state government is considering moving the court against the acquittal of three persons in the Khairlanji case by a trial court on Monday. Patil said, “We are going to consult legal experts about proceeding against the three accused let off by the court.”
The court order has evoked sharp reactions across the Dalit community which held Democratic Front government of Congress and NCP of allowing officials to suppress the evidence and dilute the case. The Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) president, Prakash Ambedkar, said, “The guilty deserved to be hanged to death and nothing less than that can be acceptable to the people.”
He lamented, “I wish the courts had considered conspiracy and caste angle behind the brutal killing of Priyanka Bhotmange. It should have been treated in the category of rarest of the rare case and accordingly punishment pronounced.” It now appears like the case has been diluted.
Dalit leaders across Maharashtra felt the state government — and the judiciary — had let them down by treating the case as any other crime against woman. Republican Party of India chief Ramdas Athawale said, “The perpetrators of the murder engaged in cruelty which finds no parallel. How could three people involved in the crime get away?”
The Dalit leaders have asked the government to intervene and make a fresh appeal in the case. Jogendra Kawade, another Dalit leader, said, “The bias against Dalits in every section has been proved. Those found guilty should have been hanged to death.”
Ambedkar argued, “We have before us recent cases related to rape where judges have pronounced death by hanging. How could they apply different yard stick in Priyanka’s case (Dalit) when the crime was far more heinous?”
){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}