The home of a Dalit family in Madhya Pradesh was recently destroyed because of their refusal to pay a 2 lakh rupee bribe to the panchayat members. The family has been living in poverty and facing casteist abuse for years.
Story: Madhvi
Edit: Nitya Kaimal
Pipaliya Station (Madhya Pradesh) A Dalit woman from Kangatti village in Malhargarh tehsil, Mandsaur district, has accused local authorities of demolishing her hut and imprisoning her husband over their refusal to pay a Rs. 2 lakh bribe and rejecting immoral demands. The complainant, Karibai, stated that she and her husband, Dashrath Bawari, have been living below the poverty line with their five daughters in a hut on Malhargarh Road for the past 20 years.
Karibai alleged that the sarpanch and district panchayat members threatened them with eviction and used casteist slurs. Despite reporting the issue to local authorities, no action was taken to prevent the demolition. She claimed that their refusal to comply with the bribery and immoral demands led to harsh actions against their family.
In response, the sarpanch and the district panchayat member dismissed the allegations as baseless. They stated that the demolition was carried out as part of an order to remove illegal encroachments, issued eight months prior due to complaints from villagers. According to them, the location is intended for the construction of a Saraswati Shishu Mandir, and Dashrath Bawari had encroached on multiple government properties.
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Farmer leader Shyamlal Jokchand condemned the government’s actions, highlighting the administration’s purportedly hollow claims of supporting the poor and farmers. Jokchand alleged that the authorities selectively target the poor while ignoring encroachments by influential individuals. He demanded that the Chief Minister take immediate action against the officials responsible for demolishing the labourer’s hut.
Pipaliyamandi police station in-charge Neeraj Sarwan confirmed that the tehsildar’s team removed the encroachment on Thursday. Following a complaint, the police arrested Dashrath Bawari under section 151, presenting him in tehsil court and sending him to jail. Attempts to contact Malhargarh tehsildar Brajesh Malviya were unsuccessful.
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This incident has sparked outrage in the local community, drawing attention to the plight of marginalized groups facing alleged corruption and abuse of power by local authorities. It underscores the ongoing challenges of caste discrimination and the struggle for justice among Dalit families in rural India.
As the community calls for accountability and transparency, the incident raises significant questions about the protection of the rights of the underprivileged and the integrity of those in positions of power. The demands for action and the scrutiny of administrative practices continue to grow, with local leaders and activists seeking justice for the Bawari family and other similarly affected individuals.
*दलित टाइम्स उन करोड़ो लोगो की आवाज़ है जिन्हें हाशिए पर रखा गया है। *
महिला, दलित और आदिवासियों के मुद्दों पर केंद्रित पत्रकारिता करने और मुख्यधारा की मीडिया में इनका प्रतिनिधित्व करने के लिए हमें आर्थिक सहयोग करें।
