Uttar Pradesh: Dalit woman molested in Banda, casteist slurs for touching hand pump
In Banda, Uttar Pradesh, an FIR has been registered against 5 people for indecent act and hurling casteist abuses at a Dalit woman. The case pertains to Banda’s Mataundh police station area where on the evening of October 31, a youth from the village forcibly entered the house of a Dalit woman. By entering the house of a Dalit woman, the young man started watching TV forcibly and when the woman opposed it, he started doing obscene acts with her. The Dalit left the woman’s house threatening to see her if she protested too much.
Casteist abuses given on filling water from hand pump:
According to the Dalit woman, on November 3, when the woman went to draw water from the handpump built near the house, the same youth along with his companions came and stood near the handpump. All the casteists first hurled casteist slurs at the woman and then humiliated her for filling water from the hand pump, saying, “You have touched the hand pump, we have to fill water, wash the hand pump” but when the woman refused to wash the hand pump, everyone Giving casteist abuses to the woman and assaulting her. When the Dalit woman raised an alarm, they also started fighting with the people who came to save her.
Police did not take action:
Accusing the Banda police, the Dalit woman said that even after the woman complained against the accused, the police did not take any action on the matter, after which the woman had to approach the court. However, on the orders of the court, while registering the case, the police have registered a case against 5 people under sections 354, 147, 323 and SC, ST Act. On the matter, Banda SP Abhinandan says that investigation is being done in the matter, although the accused have not been traced yet.
