BHOPAL: Facing social boycott and threat to their life , over 10 dalits were forced to leave a village in Sagar district on Saturday night after they were attacked and police help did not reach despite repeated calls on dial -100 number.

These dalits belong to family of Kaithora village of Banda tehsil, about 100 kms away from Sagar district headquarters, who were forced to carry their footwear over head while walking in the village dominated by Thakurs.

Anar Bai, one of the victims said a group of people attacked us on Saturday night. “From 9 pm to midnight we kept ringing dial -100 service for help but the no one responded,” she said.

“We were beaten black and blue and our dwellings were broken and all our belongings were taken away,” said Udham Basod, another dalit.

Somehow a group of 10 dalits managed to save their lives and took shelter in a farm field. Next day they reached Banda and lodged a complaint with police. “We went to Banda police station and lodged a complaint,” Anar Bai told TOI.

Police however denied about the incident. “There was no attack on them. But yes, people of their own community had beaten them. Ask them to meet me and I will help them”, sub divisional official of police (SDOP) Banda Uday Bhan Tiwari told TOI over phone.

Harassed by upper caste Thakurs, these dalit families have been battling against odds for the last five years when a young girl of the community eloped with one of the Thakurs. She was abducted to Delhi and was raped. She gave birth to a child who was also allegedly murdered.

Facing cases of rape, abduction and murder, the upper caste members ostracised dalits from the village 2 years ago and exerted pressure lon them to withdraw the cases.

“We want justice”, said Anar Bai, adding, “We will be killed if we go back to our village.”

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