KHAIRLANJI MASSACRE : ODD LEFT

 

KHAIRLANJI MASSACRE

Genotype and Casteism are two different expressions, which are still making difference in the people of state.

Bhotmange family is the one who became the seen victim of other many who are still graving. The massacre started with murder of 4 of Bhotmange family members which belong to a Scheduled caste   on September 29th 2006 in kherlanji village of Maharastra. The dispute of caste and race was outsized but this much was not known until Surekha and Priyanka were found naked in the village. Earlier that day surekha had a thwack against a land dispute, "After the family agreed to allow 15 feet of land for a road but the entire village which was dominated by OBC caste groups of kalar, powar and kunbi, could never come to terms with the fact that these two dalit families have risen Economically, Educationally and have began the task of self asserting". The kunbi group of 11 people allied and killed the 4 members of the family. The news later came after the nagpur riot.  With several enquiries and interrogation from villagers by media assists it was found that the sons were asked to gang-rape their mother and sister in front of the entire village to which they refused. So they were sexually assaulted and left killed by Kunbi people. They were subsequently mutilated. Four of them died on the spot and their bodies were dumped in a nearby canal. Bhaiyyalal Bhotmange who was the only survivor of the family rushed to the village asking for help but no one step forward. Behind time 11 convicts were found guilty in the case.

The 11 convicts of the victim were :

1. Gopal Sakru Binjewar

2. Sakru Binjewar

3. Shatrughna Dhande

4. Vishwanath Dhande

5. Prabhakar Mandlekar

6. Jagdish Mandlekar

7. Ramu Dhande

8. Shishupal Dhande

List of acquitted people:

9. Mahipal Dhande

10. Dharmpal Dhande

11. Purshottam Titirmare

In December 2006, CBI filed a chargesheet against 11 persons under charges of murder, criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly with deadly weapons and outraging the modesty of women. CBI also said that it will investigate the role of the 36 people under detention.

On 14 July, the Nagpur bench of the High Court commuted the death penalty awarded to the six convicted to a 25-year rigorous imprisonment jail sentence. The two others who received life sentences received a similar sentence.

Bhotmange was told that the CBI would appeal the commutation to the Supreme Court, however, after over two weeks of no action, Bhotmange announced he would appeal the decision himself. An appeal against the judgment of the High Court is pending before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. It was last listed for hearing on 14 August 2015.

It was the revolutionary potential of the masses that made spontaneous mass protests happen one after the another. The long march to Khairlanji was drawn by the police and the state repression grew stronger. On 8th November, about 50 women from various Dalit organisations, including Urmila Pawar stormed the CM’s office demanding justice. On the 14th, about 20,000 people marched responding to the protest call where a Dalit was martyred as police fired at him. The agitation spread all over and there was no stepping back

Later the lone survivor of the 2006 Khairlanji Scheduled Caste family massacre, Bhaiyyalal Bhotmange died on 20 Jan 2017 due to heart attack.

Featured source : India Today, Wikipedia

Image : Wikipedia