Mob torches 50 Dalit houses in Sonepat

An irate mob set on fire an entire Dalit settlement of over 50 houses this afternoon in Gohana in Sonepat. The police fired 12 rounds to dis...

An irate mob set on fire an entire Dalit settlement of over 50 houses this afternoon in Gohana in Sonepat. The police fired 12 rounds to disperse the unruly crowd and imposed Section 144. No one was injured in the attack, said police, as the settlement—Balmiki Basti—was deserted.

The incident occurred when the district’s DC and SP were present while a panchayat of 12 villages was being held. The police have booked 23 persons for arson.

The attack comes after tension between Jats and Dalits of the town over the death of a Jat, Baljit, of Dharwala village, on August 27. Baljit was beaten to death over a minor clash between him and some others at a photo shop, police said.

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The police had booked seven persons in the case, arrested four and were hunting for the remaining three in Balmiki Basti, which was why the Dalits had deserted the settlement, villagers said.

Sanjay Kothari, Secretary, Public Relations, Haryana, said: ‘‘The government is assessing the loss. The situation is now under control.’’

Sunder Pal, Media Advisor to Chief Minister, alleged that ‘‘the incident was provoked by Opposition parties because of the Rohtak by-elections. But the government would not spare the guilty.’’

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