‘Attack on a dalit village in Nashik’: Check why FIR not filed, asks Bombay HC to govt

The petition alleged that on October 9, 2016, a mob of Maratha youth attacked the Buddha Vihar area in village Sanjegaon of Igatpuri in Nashik district. The idols of Gautam Buddha and Dr Ambedkar were damaged, but no FIR was filed in the matter, the petition said.

The lawyer appearing for the petitioner stated that she was subjected to social boycott and not allowed to file a complaint with the police regarding the assault. The court was also informed there were prohibitory orders in the area at the time, to which Justice Naresh Patil said, “If there were prohibitory orders, no one is allowed to venture out and the complaint can be filed thereafter.”

The court said that the state government should check why an FIR was not filed in the matter.

“The villages of taluka Igatpuri district Nashik are facing socio-economic boycott. People are not allowed to fetch water from the common well, scheduled caste people are not allowed to walk on public roads…,” claimed the petition.

The petitioner sought directions to the police to register an FIR for the destruction of the idols and to record the statements of the victims before a judicial magistrate. The petitioner has also sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the matter.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Babybai Shinde (50) said that on October 9, a mob attacked Buddha Vihar, an assault she believes was triggered by the demonstrations being led by Maratha leaders in the region at the time.

She added that police officers were informed of the incident, after which personnel were deployed for security at the village. But, Shinde said, two days later, the police officers were allegedly taken for dinner at the sarpanch’s home and another attack carried out.

“The mob came with weapons and attacked our home. My two sons, Shivaji and Vijay, were severely injured. My husband too was attacked. I rushed to ensure my grandchildren were safe,” Shinde said.

Shivaji and Vijay work as labourers in the village. Shivaji is admitted at JJ Hospital, while Vijay is undergoing treatment in Nashik.