Dalit houses burnt in Sangli village

Over 600 men, armed with sticks, unleashed a rein of terror in the village for over two hours. They selectively attacked Dalit families and ravaged their houses forcing over four scores of Dalit families to flee to nearby fields.

No casualties were reported. Preliminary estimates put the damage to houses and other properties at over Rs 50 lakh.

Mane allegedly abducted Rekha Sonkar last night. Upper caste youths in the village retaliated almost immediately and attacked Mane.Any untoward incident, however, was avoided with the Kavathe-Mahankal police swinging in action in time.

The irate mob attempted to attack the Dalit colony on the outskirts of the village in the wee hours of Wednesday, but had to return because of the presence of PSI Sunil Pawar and his staff there. However, after the police team returned the mob relaunched the attack.

Rekha’s father Vilas Sonkar, a grocery shop owner, had registered a complaint with the police before his daughter returned home safe in the morning.

Tension still looms large in the village which now virtually is under siege as district collector Nitin Kareer and superintendent of police Tukaram Chavan are camping there. An additional police posse has been pressed into bandobast. Guardian Minister of Sangli Anna Dange visited Borgaon during the day.

Kareer told The Indian Express that the police and the district administration had provided relief to the dishoused families. “Immediate arrangements have been made to provide themfood and clothing.”

The Dalit colony has now turned into a massive heap of half-charred valuables and ravaged houses, as over 300 Dalit men, women and children were still not ready to return to the village fearing for their life.

According to village police patil Gautam Mane and others, the love affair had created tension between the two castes for the past few months.