Re: Dalit women denied temple entry in Bihar by Upper Caste men
URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION
ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAM
28 July 2005
**UA-128-2005: INDIA: Police inaction regarding assault of Dalit woman **
INDIA: Caste-based discrimination; Assault; Police inaction; Rule of law
Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission(AHRC) has received information from People’s Watch-Tamil Nadu of a caste-based assault on a Dalit woman in Vengamedu village, Perunthrai Taluk, Erode District, Tamil Nadu, India, on 31 March 2005. The only reason for the assault and sexual harassment of Ms. Pappathi was that she used the pathway which she is forbidden to use. The victim was severely assaulted and sexually harassed by a upper caste man, Ramasamay Goundar, in front of people passing by. He pulled off Ms. Pappathi’s sari, tore her blouse and beat her left breast region, right shoulder, and upper right arm twenty to thirty times. He continued to verbally abuse her, using derogatory caste words, in front of people passing by. Ms. Pappathi was extremely humiliated and experienced much physical pain. More seriously, when the victim and her husband tried to lodge a complaint about the incident, Sub-Inspector Sidhuraj of Chennimalai Police Station refused to register the complaint and has since did not take any action in her case. As a result, Ramasamy Goundar has not been arrested even four months after the incident. We request your immediate action in this matter in bringing the perpetrator to justice and providing adequate compensation to Ms. Pappathi for her pain and humiliation.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2005/1187/