SC, ST outfits to fight against ‘dilution’ of POA Act

The Karamchedu incident that claimed the lives of six Dalits in Prakasam district in 1984 following differences with upper caste people was a rallying point for Dalit and tribal organisations in the State and elsewhere at that time. In its aftermath, the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act was enacted to protect the rights of SCs and STs.

Now, all SC/ST outfits, including the ones representing the Mala and Madiga communities, shedding their differences over benefits of the quota regime, have come together to spearhead a protracted struggle to oppose tooth and nail the ‘dilution’ of the SC/ST Act.

“We will not rest until the Act is included in the Ninth schedule of the Constitution,” Dalit and Tribal leaders said while announcing a struggle committee headed by Paladugu Vijeyendra Bahujan, who had taken part in the struggle for justice to the Karamchedu Dalit victims.

“Ongole will host a State-level SC/ST Mahagarjana on May 5 as part of the struggle,” announced Struggle Committee State coordinator and Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MRPS) State general secretary U.Brahmaiah Madiga.

Upset over the Supreme Court’s judgment on the SC/ST(POA) Act, 1989 and the POA Amendment Act, 2015, Yerukula Hakkula Porata Samiti State president P. Sayam said justice had eluded Dalits and tribals in cases of massacres and socio-economic boycott by upper caste people.

‘Improper investigation’

For no fault of theirs, atrocity cases ended in acquittal in different stages not because of the perceived misuse of the POA but due to alleged improper investigation by the police and unsuccessful trial in the lower courts, he alleged.

“The apex court upholding the trial court judgment in the Karamchedu massacre case vindicated our stand,” the leaders said, adding that in the Tsundur case, justice eluded the victims.

Intimidation of victims

Delay in probe and prolonged court cases quite often resulted in intimidation of the victims and their families, they argued. Witnesses turned hostile in the absence of adequate protection for the victims and their families, they added.