As many as 50 Dalit families living in a village in Jharkhand's Palamu district were allegedly driven out by a group of a particular community. According to reports, these Dalit families were living in the village since last four decades. Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), Medininagar, Rajesh Kumar Sah, and Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Bishrampur, Surjit Kumar rushed to Tongri Pahadi area to maintain law and order, news agency PTI reported.
As per Police, a case has been registered against 12 people and 150 others in connection with the case. Massive hunt to nab all the accused is underway. After the incident was reported, Deputy Commissioner, Palamu A Dodde has assured all 50 Dalit families of rehabilitation in the same village at the earliest possible.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais took cognisance of the matter and sought a detailed report from the Deputy Commissioner, Raj Bhavan said on Tuesday. Dodde told PTI that the police have been asked to apprehend the culprits immediately.
The families ousted from the village belong to 'Mushar' community and relief agencies have been instructed to look after their well being.
While expressing sadness over the incident, one of the victims said that all residents of Marumatu village forcibly drove them out of the village. "They loaded our belongings in vehicles and dropped us in a nearby jungle," the victim said.
He also informed that the Dalit families were assaulted and even threatened not reaching to Police raise their complaint. The SDPO said that the accused have been asked to prove that the lands where Dalits were living belonged to an educational institute.
Police have also said that all necessary rrangements are being made to rehabilitate the Dalit families back to their village. The SDO also informed that the houses of the victims were demolished. However, they will be rebuilt in the same place with adequate security.