Fund to aid Mr Bant Singh, a Dalit Hero
Mr Bant Singh, aged 40, belongs to the lowest (Dalit or untouchable) caste in the hierarchical structure of Indian caste system. He is an independent minded person and rears pigs for living as against working as a laborer for the landlords. As a progressive person he had married to a handicapped woman and had a total of eight (four daughters and four sons) children ranging from 17 to 4 years of age. He is the only earning member in the family. He is a singer and an active member among the landless laborers in his area. When his minor daughter was gang raped in 2000 by the goons of landlords of his village, he took the case to court braving the threats from the landlords. He won the case in his favor which is rare for a Dalit. This was intolerable to the powerful upper caste landlords. His activities among the poor laborers despite warnings to desist to do so also angered them. To teach Mr Singh a lesson in particular and the entire Dalit community in general, they planned an attack on Mr Singh on that fateful day. They want to maim him (do not want to kill him) as a testimony to others of his type to show what could be the result if they do not fall in line with the landlords.
As planned before, when he was coming from a neighboring village on January 5th 2006 after attending a meeting of laborers, a group of upper caste landlord youth attacked him with blunt iron rods. They beat him on his hands and legs. They left him bleeding in the fields and informed his family of his condition. When someone rushed him to Mansa government hospital, the in-charge doctor delayed to attend on him demanding money. So, Mr Singh did not get medical help for the first 36 hours after the incident causing his wounds get infected. Later both of his hands and the left leg had to be amputated.
Though he was given some compensation by the government, he had not been provided any artificial limbs so far. This made him immobile. His handicapped wife is not in a position to help him.
When I spoke to him a few days ago, I learnt that he is still undergoing treatment in hospital for post complications after prolonged hospitalization and amputation. He was very displeased due to his immobility.
So, I request you to consider the gravity of this case and provide him artificial limbs and a wheel chair through your esteemed organization. I appreciate any kind of help you can provide him and his family of ten who had been put to so much human suffering just for seeking justice.
Please read various articles on this brave Dalit laborer who fought for justice and lost his limbs.