CPI alleges atrocities on dalits, labourers in Rajasthan

Lashing out at Rajasthan government for alleged atrocities on labourers and dalits, CPI leader D Raja today demanded registration of an FIR against a police officer for "manhandling" party activists and labour leaders.
He alleged that NFIW activist Nisha Sidhu and Prem of AITUC along with several labourers were manhandled by police in Vishwakarma police station here.
The SHO of Vishwakarma police station has already been removed from his posting by the police commissioner.
"Rajasthan is one of the worst administered states in the country and there are cases of atrocities on dalits, labourers, women under the misrule of Vasundhara Raje.

"I strongly condemn the incident which happened with our leader and demand a case be lodged against the police officer," the CPI National Secretary Raja said at a press conference here.
NFIW activist Sidhu, while narrating the incident, alleged that on June 30 the Inspector Deepak Khandelwal, who was the SHO of Vishwakarma police station, misbehaved and abused her and beat AITUC leader Prem.

She said that she was just inquiring from the police about a mob, which had gathered outside the police station after the murder of a labourer.
"I was just inquiring about the matter but then the SHO came and manhandled me.I was dragged inside the police station where our leader Prem was already being beaten. I was shocked and informed our other members, who contacted senior officers who intervened in the matter," she claimed.

She said that a labourer Kuldeep Prasad Singh was beaten up by the vegetable vendor couple on June 28. He died next day and his family members brought the body outside the police station from SMS hospital's mortuary.
"There was no demonstration or protest but many people had gathered there. I was passing from there and halted after seeing them. I inquired from the police that what was the matter but the SHO humiliated and misbehaved, and later manhandled," she claimed.
PUCL General Secretary Kavita Srivastava said that they met the Police Commissioner, DGP and also Home Minister demanding FIR against the SHO, fair inquiry in the murder of the labourer and arrest of the accused but no FIR was lodged against him.

When contacted, the Jaipur Police Commissioner Srinivas Rao Janga said that the SHO has already been removed from the police station and has been served a chargesheet.
He said that no FIR against him was needed in the matter.
National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) leader Annie Raja said that a demonstration will be held at Bikaner house in Delhi on July 15 to press for their demands.