THE state of Uttarakhand is supposedly believed to be calm, without any social and political prejudices. It is also termed as Dev Bhoomi(land of  deities). However, the reality is far away from that. The manifestation of social exclusion and differentiation in Uttarakhand is one of the worst forms in comparison to other states.

Recently untouchability, which is a crime according to the law, claimed one life in Jaunpur block of Tehri district. Jitender Das, a dalit youth from Basan village was attacked in a marriage party as he dared to sit on a chair along with other upper caste people. On April 26, Jitender Das attended a wedding ceremony in an adjoining village of Srikot. This marriage ceremony was in a dalit family, though upper caste people were also invited and it is they who prepare food in such a wedding. Such a kitchen is called a Suchi Rasoi( clean kitchen, where only upper caste men cook). This is a prevalent practice in mountain states.

Jitender Das who was supposed to sit on the floor, took a chair instead and starting eating. This infuriated the upper caste men and Sobat Singh and others from Bhatwadi village, initially abused Jitender and then beat him mercilessly. The victim was badly beaten up, somehow he reached his home. On April 27, when his mother alarmed that her son is unable to get up from the bed; it was then that he was taken to the hospital in Dehradun. He was admitted in the intensive care unit where he succumbed to his injuries on May 5.

A delegation of the CPI(M) comprising of Rajender Negi, secretary, Uttarakhand state committee, Rajender Purohit, Dehradun district secretary of the Party, Lekh Raj state committee member and Mahender Kumar state convenor of DSMM met the family members of Jitender Das on May 13. Puja, sister of the deceased apprised the delegation that the upper caste men mounted tremendous pressure on their family asking them to compromise with them. The local police of Kempty Fall police station were acting as facilitators for such a compromise. However, when  news appeared in the local newspapers that the police is mounting pressure on the deceased’s family to compromise and that the main eye witness to the attack ‘Gabbu Shah’ and his son are missing; action was taken against the police officials. They were transferred and the culprits were nabbed and put behind the bars.

The delegation was further apprised that there is large scale atrocity on the dalits in the region especially during the festivals and ceremonies. On being asked that the statement of the BJP MLA from Dehradun that there is no untouchability in the region, Puja said that this is absolutely false. She said the dalits are very poor and have very limited land; this land cannot provide them food for the year. She said that Tehri district headquarter is very far from her village and that the case should be transferred to Dehradun court. The delegation apprised that such a decision can only be taken by the Uttarakhand High Court. The Party will provide free legal counsel to fight for the transfer of the case. The delegation demanded that Rs 10 lakh should be provided to the family of the deceased and at least one person from the family should be provided a government job.