On September 29, several Dalit organisations across Maharashtra have planned to organize a 'Dhikkar rally' in Bhandara just to mark the 1st anniversary of the murder of four members of a Bhaiyalal Bhotmange at Khairlanji village.
On September 29, 2006, four members of the dalit family were reportedly massacred in Kherlanji village in Bhandara, near Nagpur in Maharashtra.
The incident was reported first in some Marathi daily and the mainstream media did not provide any space to this incident till October first week. Some political parties had organised a protest but it remained a mere ritual.
DNA had reported about the incident on October 7 that Surekha, 44, and her daughter Priyanka, 18, were beaten and gang-raped in front of villagers for an hour before they fell dead. According to the report, Surekha's sons, Sudhir and Roshan Bhotmange, were murdered in the same incident on September 29.
Bhiyyalal, the head of the family, had managed to save his life when his family was attacked. Later, online media exposed the matter that led it to the nationwide protests. [1], [2]
Now, several Dalit organisations has decided to hold a rally in Bhandara and more than 30,000 people are likely to attend the gathering on September 29. According to the report, a a Dalit cultural front from Mumbai is the main organiser of the rally.
The Khairlanji incident had even given a chance to the various divided Dalit groups to be united against the state government's poor action taken in this matter.
Later, Naxalites had even taken keen interest and even issued warnings to deliver justice to the perpetrators of the crime. At present, a fast-track court in Bhandara is hearing the case.
Bhandara District Collector S M Sarkunde said that he was unaware of any proposed rally. He said:
We get to know about it only through newspapers. Protests may be held, but we do not think there is any reason for additional security.
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