August 26, 2009 12:20:13 am
Around 50 members of the Dalit community from Abheypur Village sat on dharna outside the office of the district administration on Monday to protest against alleged atrocities by the village panchayat.
According to the villagers,the panchayat is pressurising the community to withdraw a rape case that is currently being heard in the Gurgaon district court.
On August 13 last year,a 75-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly raped by a 25-year-old youth from the village. The villager said the accused,Pappinder,belongs to the Gurjjar community and was arrested by the police soon after the incident.
The Gurgaon police had registered a case under Section 376 of the IPC and the accused was sent to Bhondsi Jail.
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The date for the final order is on August 28. Meanwhile,the panchayat has been pressurising the community to withdraw the case,members of the community alleged.
The panchayat cut supply of water and power to our basti on August 18. They have even told shopowners not to sell groceries to members of our community, Inami Lal,a community elder,said.
Village sarpanch Pal Singh Pradhan was,meanwhile,unavailable for comment.
After the villagers met the additional deputy commissioner and put in a complaint in the matter,the district administration has sent a team to investigate the allegations.
We have received the complaint and are looking into the matter. We will send water tankers to the village and ensure that the connections are restored soon and the community is not targeted, deputy commissioner,Gurgaon,Rajender Kataria,said.
S S Dheswal,Commissioner of Police,Gurgaon,said: I have directed the DCP to ensure that law and order is maintained. There is no question of compromise since the matter is shocking. Anyone trying to influence either the victim or the community she belongs to will be dealt with an iron hand.
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