Rakesh Kunjur

Daijiworld Media Network - Kaup (MS)

Kaup, Jan 28: In a bizarre incident that has occurred at Ucchila in the taluk, Dalits tried to cremate the body of Dalit leader in front of the gram panchayat itself as there is no proper land meant for them to carry out the final rites of people of their community.

Shankar, a Dalit leader of Mullagudde Harijana Colony of Bada village, died on Tuesday, January 28. But as there is no place to cremate him, the Dalits have kept his body in front of the Ucchila panchayat office and are trying to cremate him there itself. There is a tense situation prevailing in the area.

Panchayat administrators and police have rushed to the spot.

There is a public Hindu cemetery in Ucchila of the taluk. However, Dalits are barred from carrying out burial or cremation of the dead bodies of people belonging to Dalit community. Only Mogaveera, who are an upper caste is allowed to cremate or bury their dead people in this cemetery.

Though the public Hindu cemetery in Ucchila belongs to the government, Dalits are not allowed to use it. Dalit Sangharsha Samiti has held severe fight in this regard. But the panchayat administration, though has got lac of rupees of grant from the district administration, is not building a cremation ground for the Dalits.