Statement by Shri Rajesh Lilothia:The Indian National Congress strongly condemns the heinous act of the Uttar Pradesh State government, which has allowed its State Police force to open fire on Dalits in Silaibara Village in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, amidst the installation of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Board in a park. A 17-year-old Dalit boy, Sumesh, was returning home after taking his Xth board exam when he was shot dead in UP Police firing.

While the circumstances surrounding Sumesh’s death remained under scrutiny, the family and local community were demanding a thorough investigation. Still, the UP Police hurriedly cremated Sumesh’s body on March 01, 2024, as they did with the Dalit rape victim in Hathras in 2020 to hide the evidence.

The recently released National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB) ‘Crime in India’ Report reveals that a total of 57,428 cases of atrocities/ crimes against Dalits were reported in 2022. With 15,368 cases in Uttar Pradesh alone, reporting the highest number of cases of atrocities against Dalits; accounting for 28% of the total atrocities in India. Despite witnessing what happened in Hathras and now in Rampur, no action has been taken towards firmly implementing the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in Uttar Pradesh.

It is not only the Uttar Pradesh state government which has failed to establish law and order, but also the failure of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister of India as he claims that the Double-Engine Sarkaar’s governance in Uttar Pradesh is being governed by the BJP. Since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, more than 5,00,000 cases of atrocities against Dalits have been reported. Unreported number is expected to be six times the actual figure as the reports of such cases are not written by the Police.

Sumesh’s family has filed an FIR against 25 individuals, including officials from Milak Police Station, Uttar Pradesh, the SDM and the Tehsildar, at the local police station. We demand from National Commission for Scheduled Caste (NCSC) to ensure fast-track justice in this case. – Friday, March 01, 2024