Mumbai: Maharashtra NCP MLC Ram Pandagale
today attacked the state Government for increasing number of
atrocities against Dalits in the backdrop of a recent incident
in which a Dalit girl was paraded naked in the city.
"It is very shocking the city witnessed the incident
where a Dalit girl was paraded naked and the accused was given
bail immediately. The Government is not serious about the
atrocities," Pandagale informed the Legislative Council here
today.
In a fight between neighbours, a Dalit boy was beaten up
by a mob and his sister was paraded naked on June 17 at Reay
Road's slums in central Mumbai.
Alleging the Government of being soft on accused of the
atrocities, Pandagale said when an upper caste woman was raped
near Beed, the accused were booked under Maharashtra Control
of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and the accused of this case
Sharada Jadhav was given bail.
In a reply, Minister of State for Home, Ramesh Bagwe said
the Government has booked 11 accused under various sections
including Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of
Atrocities) Act. Only one accused was given bail in the case.
However, MCOCA cannot be revoked since the accused have no
criminal background, he added.
Bagwe also said that the Government has set up a one man
committee of a retired Justice who would recommend amendments
in the laws to deal with such cases strictly.
The committee recommendations would be sent to the
Centre, he added.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 21:29