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Raped at 15, then doused with kerosene and torched as India looked away mayo |
rights, freedoms and repression |
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 Saturday November 25, 2006 21:20 by Bridie Farrell
 "four members of a Dalit family in in Maharashtra state were killed by upper-caste residents because they refused to hand over a field they owned so locals could build a road over it". Today's UK Independent is reporting that Asha Katiya, a Dalit woman or former Untouchable, was murdered by being doused with kerosene as she slept and torched by the upper-caste man who she accused of raping her when she was 15. The Independent is further reporting that "according to relatives as she lay dying, upper-caste neighbours refused to take her to hospital" and "there has been no outcry in India. The case has been barely reported!". |
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Comments (3 of 3)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3The victim when she was living was just as important as anybody else. It is therfore disgracefull with the level of technology and scientific advancements that the message of human origns and relevance,there are still people who look down on their fellow equals as an untouchable. The question needs to be asked how do you educate these human morons.
I'm an Irish citizen in Maharashtra state at the mo and I can say that of the local papers I've read of late, no mention of this has been made. I can say that modern India (meaning wealthy) is very careful about keeping the true extent of such events under radar. When it is covered...as the fiery and now despised writer Arundhati Roy attempts, it is ridiculed as s**t stirring by a right wing hindu media.
As an example, an hour ago i was eating in a restaurant, when suddenly everyone disappeared inside. Paddy last, I stood up just as a hail of rocks and sticks came, followed by a crowd of street kids venting their anger. When all was over i asked around about what had happened and everyone looked away or shrugged. I guess my point is the caste system here is well embedded and the upper castes want it to stay that way and if that means rape, murder or police brutality, they see no problem with it.
A terrible story, only one of many. I would urge anyone who is horrified by the treatment of Dalits to join a human rights organisation, eg, Amnesty International, or Human Rights Watch. Although they always seek funds, you don't need to be affluent to join - you can help human rights by taking action as often as you can, often online if you are short of time. Every action helps the cause of human rights.