Lucknow, Dec 24: If the rise in cases registered by Dalits against upper castes in Amethi-Rae Bareli belt during past one month were any indication, Priyanka Gandhi's recent gesture of taking up cudgels for a Dalit in Amethi appeared to have emboldened the dalits.

According to intelligence sources, as many as 51 cases of Dalit atrocities were registered in different police stations in the belt during last month as against 38 cases registered on an average during last few months. Increase in registration of cases is a clear indication that Dalits, in this belt, are now ready to call spade a spade and have lodged named firs against Thakurs, which was a rarity earlier, a senior intelligence officer told a news agency.

In Saitha village in Sultanpur district, a dalit's house was demolished by a Thakur in June. The Dalit remained quiet for four months but later mustered enough courage to lodge a named FIR against the culprit in first week of December. This particular case is a clear indication of changed social equation, the intelligence officer said adding it was ostensibly believed that Priyanaka's gesture and the political heat the incident had generated had emboldened Dalits to file cases against upper caste.

Intelligence officials claim land dispute as the major bone of contention between the two castes. Thakurs claim that Dalit had illegally occupied their lands while Dalits claim themselves to be the rightful owner. The Amethi incident, in which Priyanka intervened, was also a case of land dispute, said the official.

Bureau Report