Dalit-Yadav Kabaddi Case ends in Compromise

Barely three days after they raised the banner of revolt against caste atrocities, the Dalits of Gurgaon’s Chakkarpur village were forced to take a back step on Saturday, in the interest of the village’s ‘peace’.

On August 15, six members of a local Dalit team were bashed up by dominant caste Yadavs in Chakkarpur during a ‘friendly’ Kabaddi tournament, when it looked like they were winning against a visiting team comprising of Yadavs. While Dalits alleged that the incident was a result of existing caste prejudices in Chakkarpur, Yadavs insisted that the incident had nothing to do with caste.

The eight accused were arrested on Friday. The arrests led to a panchayat being convened on Friday, in which the victims’ father, 60-year-old Rajpal, was urged by Yadav elders to withdraw the FIR. Such panchayats are held from time to time when matters of importance concerning the village come up.

On Saturday, Rajpal’s home became a scene of chaos and heated negotiations around mid-day. The drawing room of Rajpal’s residence was filled choc a block with negotiators, representatives of Yadavs, Dalit community members, neighbours, and idle bystanders.

Two affidavits, no justice

The subject of speculation was an affidavit that Rajpal’s sons were asked to sign. It said that the eight men – Kapil, Rajpal Pankaj, Ankush, Sahil, Amit, Depak and Naveen – named by petitioners in the FIR were wrongly identified. It was an inadvertent identification error, as the scene of crime was very chaotic, the affidavit said.

The affidavit is a farce, members from the community openly admitted, but had to be signed nevertheless, to prevent a vitiation of the village’s atmosphere. The key negotiator between Yadavs and Dalits, is a Chakkarpur-resident Vinod Nambardar (also a Yadav) – a tall, smartly dressed real estate businessman in his forties. Alternatively shifting his attention between incoming messages on his smartphone, and the negotiation, he came across as a busy, wealthy man, who commanded respect. Whenever things got noisy, it took an intervention from him to ensure that the conversation was back on track.

“The affidavit says that our men were not beaten up by those named in the FIR, but by anya log (other people). Who are these other people? Ghosts? Or did our men break their own arms?” a young man from the community asked. Nambardar threw him a cold glance before proceeding to speak.

“Don’t you agree that for the first time in the panchayat your views were given importance? Who enabled that? Me. They apologised, offered monetary compensation. If they have confessed that they were wrong and assured that atrocities won’t be repeated, why pursue this? We live in the same village. All of us were born and grew up here,” he said.

They are takers for the emotional appeal, but community members agreed that signing on the affidavit would be a self-goal.

“It would amount to agreeing that we wrongfully named people in the FIR. Kal ko hum pein mukadma chal sakta hain. (They might use this to file a case against us),” a community elder said. Hectic parleys continued and in the end, the men agreed to sign on the condition that a counter-affidavit would be made. This affidavit would say that Dalits had agreed to compromise, assured by statements of Yadav elders. If there were reprisal attacks, elders would have to take responsibility. This new affidavit would have to be signed by Yadavs elders. Both sides agreed that it was a reasonable proposition. Soon, Nambardar, and Yadav representatives left.

Before leaving, Nambardar told Newslaundry that all was well in the village, and that it was not a case of caste atrocity. Finally free from attending to guests, Rajpal told Newslaundry about what transpired in Friday’s panchayat.

“They apologised. Yadav elders said there was no guarantee that the eight men would be reformed if they were sent to jail. What if they came back, hardened by their time in prison, and wreaked havoc on the village, they asked. They even offered money for my hospital bills, but I refused,” he said.

When asked why, he said, “Taking money would be like putting a price on our dignity. I would have to hear their taunts all my life. Instead, I asked them to take money from me, and get their arms broken,” he said, the sense of moral victory in his voice evident.

Dalits alleged that this is not the first instance of caste atrocity they have been subjected to. They added that after every such instance, such panchayats are held, where the dominant castes push for a compromise so that the incident does not reach the doors of the police and the judiciary.

Rajpal doesn’t believe that the compromise would be counter-productive to the cause of justice for Dalits.

“If we see that they are not sticking to their words, I will ask my sons to change their statement in front of the Magistrate,” he said.

Fear and foreboding

The sense of victory is not shared by Rajpal’s sons Vijender and Yogender who are back from hospital, and recuperating at home. They are ill at ease to explain that they’ve not been forced to settle for a compromise, but the facade did give away at times.

A female relative of the men said on the condition of anonymity, “Yes, there is indeed a pressure to compromise. There is also a sense of fear.

One of the brothers initially obliged Newslaundry with a frank video statement on why they signed the affidavit, but afterwards requested that the video be deleted.

“Hum do tarfa karyavaahi nahi kar sakte. Ek taraf raajinaama, aur doosre taraf media ko bayan. (We can’t settle for a compromise on hand, and give statements to the media to the other)”, he explained.

The brothers want to return to normal life, away from the spotlight and court battles. Both are employed as drivers, and haven’t been able to return to their jobs since August 15, because of injuries. They fear that they might lose their jobs.  

A close male relative of the brothers explained further, “Now we have lot of support from the media and other community members. After a time, everyone will move on, we’ll be left alone. Yogender and Vijender will return to their jobs, they have mouths to feed. What if they get attacked outside the village while at work? A compromise is in everyone’s best interests.”  

Regardless of the back step, community members are unequivocal in saying that for the first time, the dominant castes have been taught a lesson.

The eight accused are currently lodged in Gurgaon’s Sector 29 police station, and will be produced in court on Monday, according to Investigating Officer Kanwar Singh. Yadavs will push for bail on Monday, sources said.

Though the family might eventually end up withdrawing the FIR, members believe that a strong message that Dalits can’t be taken for granted has been sent. Settling for a compromise was a small sacrifice in the interest of peace, they think.

However, can there be peace without justice? There are no easy answers.