8th anniversary of Una flogging: Dalits propose coordination committee to seek justice

“Around 500 Dalits who have been victims of caste violence attended the event, including the victims of the Una flogging incident. At the meeting, it was proposed that a coordination committee of Dalits should be formed to fight for justice for Dalits who are being subjected to atrocities,” Mevani, a Dalit leader and Vadgam MLA, told The Indian Express.

“It is also a huge disappointment that victims of Una flogging incident have not got justice even after eight years, as the state government has not kept its promise of providing agricultural land and government jobs to the victims’ families… and trial of the case is still ongoing,” he added.

The Congress leader said that in the meeting, it was suggested that Dalits should also take out a march from Una to Gandhinagar if the government fails to provide justice to the flogging victims.

A group of cow vigilantes allegedly assaulted Vashram Sarvaiya, his younger brother Ramesh, cousin Ashok Sarvaiya and relative Bechar Sarvaiya while they were skinning a dead cow in Mota Samadhiyala village in Una on July 11, 2016. The assailants accused the Dalits of slaughtering the cow. When Vashram’s father Balu and mother Kunvar tried to intervene, the accused allegedly assaulted them as well. They also allegedly attacked Arjan Babariya and Devshi Babariya, both residents of neighbouring Bediya village and relatives of the Sarvaiyas.

The accused, from the neighbouring villages, then allegedly kidnapped Vashram, Ramesh, Ashok and Bechar in their SUV, took them to Una town and flogged them before abandoning them near Una police station. Videos of the accused beating half-naked Dalits went viral, causing a nationwide outrage. Police subsequently arrested more than a dozen people, who are now out on bail.