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Bhaiyyalal begins hunger strike in Maharashtra |
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Written by Correspndent
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Wednesday, 17 October 2007 |
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 Bhandara: The lone survivor of the Bhotmange family Bhaiyyalal launched an indefinite hunger strike, along with 13 supporters in front of the Bhandara district collectorate in Maharashtra on 16 September 2007.
On 15 September 2007, Bhaiyyalal led a delegation under the banner of Social Justice Organisation, and submitted a memorandum of demands to Collector Sambhajirao Sarkunde. Bhaiyyalal said if the government failed to pay heed to their demands by 12 pm on 16 September 2007, he would stage an indefinite hunger strike, along with his associates.
Some of his demands included the speedy disposal of the Khairlanji Dalit massacre case, in which four of his family members were killed on 29 September 2006 and that the fast track court hearing the case be given the status of special court to speed up the trial. Bhaiyyalal demanded an unconditional withdrawal of offences registered against the agitators involved in the state-wide post-Khairlanji agitation.
The trial in the Dalit massacre case in Khairlanji village began on 3 May 2007. The prosecution listed 74 witnesses to be produced before the special court, of which 15 have been deposed over the last five months. At this rate, the hearing of witnesses would take at least five years, he claimed and urged the government for ensuring a daily hearing of the case for expediting the trial.
(Source: The Times of India dated 17 October 2007)
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Last Updated ( Friday, 19 October 2007 )
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