Being a Dalit is a crime! Police picked him up for sitting on a chair, he gave up his life when he could not bear the insult
Posted on: by Dalit Times
“I have been punished just for being a Dalit. I cannot tolerate this.” And the Dalit committed suicide. Actually, a Dalit dared to sit on a chair while watching Ramleela. After this, the policemen insulted him in public and removed him from the chair. He could not tolerate this insult, and he committed suicide by hanging himself.
UP News: A tragic incident in Kasganj district of Uttar Pradesh has shaken the entire society. This incident not only highlights the severity of discrimination against the Dalit community, but also raises questions on the casteist mentality prevalent in the society. A Dalit man, Ramesh Chand, was forced to commit suicide just because he had the ‘audacity’ to sit on a chair while watching Ramleela. After this, the policemen publicly insulted him and removed him from the chair. Ramesh could not bear this insult, and he hanged himself to death.
Event details
Ramlila was being organized in a village of Kasganj district. Ramesh Chand, who belonged to the Dalit community, had gone to watch the Ramlila. He sat on a chair like other spectators, but this simple act of his was stopped in a disrespectful manner by the policemen. Head constables Bahadur Singh and Vikram Singh present there not only pulled Ramesh up from the chair, but also abused and beat him. Ramesh was deeply devastated by this humiliation in front of the villagers. He returned home and told his wife the whole incident and then went to his room and hanged himself.
Complaint of Ramesh’s wife
Ramesh’s wife has lodged a complaint against the policemen at the police station. Her complaint states that Ramesh could not tolerate the humiliation he had to face at the hands of the policemen just because he was a Dalit. She said, “Ramesh told me that I have been punished just for being a Dalit. I cannot tolerate this.” These words reflect the extent to which caste discrimination is still prevalent in society.
Police statement
Giving clarification on this incident, ASP of Kasganj said that Ramesh Chand was drunk and he sat on the stage where chairs were placed only for the organizers. On the complaint of the organizers and the audience, the policemen removed him from there. However, this statement of the police ignores the fact that the way Ramesh was treated was not only inhuman but also against his dignity.
The deep roots of racism
This incident confirms that caste discrimination has not been completely eradicated in India even today. Despite the law, people of the Dalit community are still considered second class citizens in society. Ramesh Chand’s death once again brings to the fore the bitter truth that respect and equal treatment for the Dalit community at the social level is still only an ideal, which requires a lot of struggle to turn into reality.
seeking justice
Ramesh’s wife and his family have demanded a thorough investigation of the incident and strict action against the guilty policemen. They have said that Ramesh’s death is not just a suicide but a murder, which has been carried out due to the casteist thinking of the society and the abusive behavior of the policemen. People of the Dalit community have also protested against this incident and demanded justice for Ramesh.
Responsibility of society
This incident forces us to think whether there is really equality in our society? Is every person getting the benefit of the rights given by the Constitution? Ramesh Chand’s death is a symbol of the plight of thousands of Dalits who face caste atrocities on a daily basis. If we envision a society based on equality and justice, we have to take such incidents seriously and take strict steps to end it.
Ramesh’s death is not just that of an individual, it is the voice of a community that is still being deprived of respect and dignity. His death is a warning to society that if steps are not taken against casteism now, many more such ‘Ramesh’s’ will continue to be victims of caste atrocities.
