In Patanagada block of Balangir district in Odisha, nearly 30 self declared Gorakhakas (cow protectors) had attacked 4 Scheduled Caste people at Balipata village on 5th February while returning from a cow market. Such heinous incident was not in news till 12th February. When many Scheduled Caste people came in a rally to Sub-Collectoriate office at Patanagarh on 12th February and demanded for arrest of all culprits then only it came to knowledge. Such silence of all regional newspapers on this sensitive issue specifically when a voice of protest against hooliganism of cow-protectors is rising in the country is unwarranted.
On 5th February 4 SC people namely Rabindra Nag (51), AgastiTandi (50), Santosh Chatria (50) and Chitrasen Nag (47) while returning from Jogimunda cow market with their cows were attacked by 30 people of Patanagarh branch Bajarang dal members. The victims have mentioned in FIR that those perpetrators were shouting slogan of ‘Jayashree Ram’ and were mentioning them as ‘we Bajarang Dal members’. The perpetrators have looted them also. A FIR has been registered (FIR no 32/ 5th Feb 2019) and in the meantime the district police have arrested only two persons from the gang.
Ganatantrik Adhikar Suraksha Sangathan here condemns stony silence of the government at state level and demands before the state government that all those culprits should be booked under Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocity) Act immediately and proper compensation should be given to above victims soon.
Golak Bihari Nath, President
Deba Ranjan, General Secretary
