Dharmapuri rampage shows worsening plight of Dalits: Yohannan

Three Dalit colonies in Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu witnessed extensive looting and arson after a man committed suicide over his daughter marrying a Dalit. India's "untouchables" is growing more critical daily, says K P Yohannan, founder and president of Gospel for Asia (GFA).

"Christians everywhere are called to urgent prayer for these oppressed people who are crying out to God for hope," said Yohannan.

As many as 268 huts were set on fire by a mob of over 1,800 persons in Natham, Kondampatty and Anna Nagar on November 7.

The mob was incited by the marriage of a caste Hindu girl to a Dalit boy from Natham colony. Upon learning of the marriage, the girl's father committed suicide, and mobs took fierce revenge on unsuspecting families in not only the boy's colony, but two adjoining colonies as well.

This kind of violence inflicted by the upper castes is not an isolated incident, said Yohannan.

The Dalits, who are considered subhuman, and are not even part of the lowest of the caste system, are segregated, treated as slaves and mercilessly abused. In many places, they are denied access to safe water, education and choice of faith and occupation. In their suffering, they are opening their hearts seeking hope, said Yohannan.

Of India's 1.2 billion people, one-fourth are "untouchables." Ninety-five percent of all Dalit women are illiterate.

GFA serves the Dalit communities through its 580 Bridge of Hope institutions bringing education, meals and healthcare to 60,000 children in need. In communities where Dalits are not allowed to draw water from public wells, Jesus Wells are providing clean water for 800-900 families.

Meanwhile, the November 7 attack on the three Dalit colonies was a well-organised crime, Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes PL Punia told reporters on Monday.

Petrol bombs were hurled at four-wheelers, two-wheelers, and valuables looted from houses revealing that it was not a sudden attack but a pre-planned one, the NCSC chairman said.

All the houses in the colonies suffered damaged, Punia said, adding that the villagers were in a state of shock.

According to a PTI report, the Commission praised the district administration and police personnel who acted swiftly to arrest 126 culprits in connection with the violence.

As many as 40 houses were destroyed, while 175 others suffered damage. In all, the loss was approximately Rs 6.95 crore.

Punia said that the Commission would recommend to the government to constitute a separate body to provide counselling to the victims.