CBI to probe Khairlanji Dalit killings

Under pressure from Dalit organisations, the Maharashtra Government on Tuesday decided to hand over investigations into the killing of four members of a Dalit family...

Under pressure from Dalit organisations, the Maharashtra Government on Tuesday decided to hand over investigations into the killing of four members of a Dalit family, including two women, at Khairlanji village in Bhandara district, to the CBI.

“There was a demand from various Dalit organisations, who had doubts about the ongoing police investigations, that the case be handed over to the CBI,” Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil said. “In fact, investigations being conducted by the police were proceeding in the right direction and we had arrested 44 people. But, to ensure that there is transparency and that there is no suspicion in any quarter, we have decided to hand over the case to the CBI,” he said.

He pointed out that the state government would write a letter to the Centre recommending CBI probe, which could begin immediately after the formalities are over.

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“We want to respect the demand of Dalit organisations, who have certain doubts about the ongoing investigations by the police. The government wants to gain the trust of the people. We want to pre-empt any doubts on the outcome of the investigations,” he said.

Patil had invited the wrath of Dalit organisations for suspecting that Naxalites were behind the series of violent agitations in Vidarbha against the killings. On Tuesday, Patil denied having said that Naxalites were behind the agitations. He said his comments on intelligence reports indicating that Naxal organisations were using innocent Dalits to spread violence were misinterpreted.

On September 29, four members of the Dalit Bhootmange family — Surekha Bhootmange (50), her daughter Priyanka (19), sons Roshan (17) and Sudhir (18) — were murdered by a mob. About a month later, a series of agitations rocked the Vidarbha region, pointing out police lapses in the investigations and demanding a CBI inquiry.

Amravati: Several hurt in arson, police firing

NAGPUR: THE Khairlanji Action Committee’s protests against the Dalit killings shifted to Amravati city, 150 km from here, on Tuesday. Resorting to stone-pelting and arson, the activists destroyed and burnt scores of vehicles, forcing the police to burst teargas shells, cane-charge and finally, to open fire. Six people, including five policemen, were injured in the stone-pelting while another man suffered bullet injury on his leg, Divisional Commissioner K Goel said. —ENS