http://www.hindustantimes.com/House-panel-slams-Haryana-police/Article1-594007.aspx
House panel slams Haryana police HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times New Delhi, August 31, 2010First Published: 00:39 IST(31/8/2010) Last Updated: 00:41 IST(31/8/2010) A parliamentary panel on Monday slammed the Haryana police for its "negligent attitude and inaction" on the issue of atrocities against Dalits in Mirchpur village of Hisar district in April. A 60-year-old Dalit and his handicapped daughter were burnt alive and 18 houses were set on fire allegedly by Jats on April 21 following a scuffle between the two communities. The parliamentary panel rap for the police comes four days after the Supreme Court had slammed the state government, for its failure to arrest all the accused. "The negligence and lackadaisical attitude of the state police in apprehending and taking proper action against all the accused justify the fear psychosis that has engulfed the affected people," said the Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, in its report presented to both Houses of Parliament. The panel, which visited Mirchpur, concluded that the dominant Jat community continues to threaten the Dalits. "During interaction with affected people, the committee was informed that they were being asked by the dominant Jat community to withdraw the FIRs filed against the culprits," the report said. The Congress brass had taken the issue seriously and party general secretary, Rahul Gandhi, had visited Mirchpur on April 30. A rattled state government had swung into action. It announced a compensation of R20 lakh to the family of the deceased and Rone lakh damages to those whose houses were burnt. It also informed the SC on Thursday that 52 accused had been arrested and 71 others were yet to be arrested.
