http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=86483
50 dalits injured in temple row Kantipur Report DIPAYAL, Sept 18 - Over four dozen dalits were injured Sunday when a group of non-dalits attacked them as the former entered the local Shaileswori temple. The condition of 15 among the injured is critical. Even dalit women were injured in the attack. Dalits had entered the temple following an agreement last week between representatives of seven parties, Maoists, civil society, and district administration allowing dalits to enter the temple under the supervision of district police office. The district administration had reached an agreement with the temple's priest as well to allow this. However, things turned nasty after non-dalits attacked the dalits and vandalized offices of some organizations working against caste discrimination. The rowdy group also attacked journalists who, along with rights workers, fled from the district headquarters Silgadi fearing for their lives. "Non-dalits broke the heads of dalits because of the district administration's negligence," said Dharma Singh Bishwokarma, coordinator of Dalit United Struggle Committee. "The administration allowed pro-king elements who do not want the House declaration enforced, to do as they wish," he added. The vandals damaged computers in Sama Bikas Center Doti and Doti branch of Dalit Women's Association, and also tore office documents. The group also attacked journalists Min Bam, Tekendra Deuba, Ran Bahadur Bohara and Siddhiram Upadhyaya and even seized a camera. They also injured five policemen, including DSP Moti Singh Dhami while the latter tried to stop them from pelting stones at the district administration office. The vandals chanted slogans against the seven parties and journalists in favor of the king. Issuing a statement, Jagaran Media Center, a media alliance against caste discrimination, has demanded government action against vandals and compensation for victims. It has also accused the local administration of being a mute spectator to blatant violation of law. The statement says that Silgadi bazaar is tense and dalits are either fleeing the place or hiding in groups. "We strongly demand security for their lives," the statement says. Posted on: 2006-09-17 21:32:36 (Server Time) -- Subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a BLANK email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
