Dalit ex-sarpanch 'beaten up' by her rivals at gram sabha meet

Express news service Posted online: Mon Sep 09 2013, 04:33 hrs

A former woman sarpanch was allegedly beaten up by her rivals as she asked questions during a gram sabha meeting in Waghe-Bhabalgaon (Kaig) village in Beed district on Saturday. The police have registered a case against 14 persons under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The meeting had been convened by sarpanch Chhaya Mane at a village temple to discuss a water scheme. According to reports, former sarpanch Kalavati Sopan Jadhav, a Dalit, and her supporters asked the gram sabha to give details on the expenditure related to schemes for Dalit residents of the village. Kalavatis rivals asked her to keep quiet as they had other items on the agenda to discuss. This led to an altercation between the two groups, said the Kaig police.

Senior inspector Nandkumar Patil said: We have lodged a complaint against 14 persons under SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. In their complaint, Kalavati and her supporters said they were beaten up and confined inside the temple, adding that chutney powder was sprayed into their eyes and abusive words were used against them.

However, the Mane group came up with a counter complaint against Kalavati and her supporters for outraging the modesty of women, said the police officer. He said: Manes supporters have said the rivals sprayed red chilli powder on them. Claims and counter claims are going on.

The police said none of the villagers was severely injured, adding that the situation was under control.

Confirming the fight between the women workers from both groups, eyewitnesses said the women hurled abuses and pulled hair of each other. According to sources, most of the gram sabha members represent the ruling NCP.

What triggered the ugly fight between the two women groups supported by their male colleagues was an issue related to a water project.

Kalavati, during her term as the sarpanch, had brought a Rs 1.27-crore water project to the village. A water committee was formed to undertake work on the project. Eight months ago, the gram sabha passed a no-confidence motion against her and defeated her. On Saturday, they wanted to dissolve the water committee to take control of the funds and appoint new members.

According to Mane group, of the total Rs 1.27 crore, Rs 57 lakh was already spent and there were irregularities, which was why they were planning to reconstitute the new committee. But the rival group said it was injustice to Kalavati. It was her hard work that paved the way for the Rs 1.27-crore scheme. But when it came to its implementation, the rivals passed a resolution to dismiss her from the post. And now they wanted to wrest entire control on the funds as they dont want to give her credit for the good work, said one of her supporters.

The sarpanch post comes under a reserved category and both Kalavati and Mane belong to backward castes.