Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a Dalit family was beaten at midnight on 10 September 2017 by non-Dalits, after the 25-year-old son married a non-Dalit girl. Bal Bahadur married Ms. Ramma Shahi, a non-Dalit girl of Chadung, Dullu Municipality of Dailekh District, on 28 June 2017. The girl’s relatives forcefully took her away on September 9, and then returned on September 10 to beat up Bal’s parents, Bhakta and Amrita Bahadur. They also abducted Bal Bahadur.
CASE DETAILS:
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about Bal Bahadur B.K. (25) who married his non-Dalit girlfriend Ramma Shahi on 28 June 2017. The couple was in hiding fearing for their lives after their inter-caste marriage. Only a few days ago, they came out of hiding and started living at Bal Bahadur’s house at Damar, Barahataal Rural Municipality. A group of four non-Dalits, including Ramma’s brother, Ananda Shahi, forcefully broke into the house, and took away Ramma on September 9. The group came back on September 10 at midnight, and started beating Bal Bahadur and his parents, Bhakta and Amrita. They threw his parents out of the first floor and abducted Bal Bahadur. They dismantled the house and burnt everything.
Bal Bahadur’s sister, Krishna B.K., found her parents lying injured outside the house and her brother missing. Their neighbors called the police. The police took them to the Mid-western Regional Hospital, Kalagaun for treatment. Bhakta Bahadur and Amrita had serious injuries on their heads, chests, and hands.
Bal Bahadur was able to save his life after he managed to run away during his captivity on September 11. Bal Bahadur made a telephone call to a local villager and informed him of his escape. He is still in hiding, and fears to come home.
In order to cover up the incident, Ramma’s family members claim that Bal has been married before, which is an utter lie. They also claim that Ramma has been married earlier with a boy in Achham District, and also has a 4-year-old son.
The AHRC requests the relevant authorities to conduct a prompt and proper investigation into this incident of inter-caste marriage. The safety and security of Bal, his family, and Ramma must be ensured, and Bal’s family must receive appropriate medical treatment and compensation.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the following authorities, calling on them to take necessary action against the people involved in this incident. The police need to immediately arrest the alleged perpetrators, and start a prompt and proper investigation into this case.
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues requesting her intervention in this case.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
NEPAL: Dalit family beaten and son abducted after inter-caste marriage
Name of victims: Bhakta Bahadur B.K., Amrita B.K., and Bal Bahadur B.K.
Alleged Perpetrators: Four persons including Ananda Shahi, brother of girl Ramma Shahi
Date of incident: 9 September 2017 to present
Place of incident: Damar, Barahataal Rural Municipality ward number-8, Surkhet District
I am writing to voice my deep concern as a Dalit family was beaten at midnight on 10 September 2017 by non-Dalits, after the 25-year-old son married a non-Dalit girl. Bal Bahadur B.K. (25) married his non-Dalit girlfriend Ramma Shahi on 28 June 2017. The couple was in hiding fearing for their lives after their inter-caste marriage. Only a few days ago, they came out of hiding and started living at Bal Bahadur’s house at Damar, Barahataal Rural Municipality. A group of four non-Dalits, including Ramma’s brother, Ananda Shahi, forcefully broke into the house, and took away Ramma on September 9. The group came back on September 10 at midnight, and started beating Bal Bahadur and his parents, Bhakta and Amrita. They threw his parents out of the first floor and abducted Bal Bahadur. They dismantled the house and burnt everything.
Bal Bahadur’s sister, Krishna B.K., found her parents lying injured outside the house and her brother missing. Their neighbors called the police. The police took them to the Mid-western Regional Hospital, Kalagaun for treatment. Bhakta Bahadur and Amrita had serious injuries on their heads, chests, and hands.
Bal Bahadur was able to save his life after he managed to run away during his captivity on September 11. Bal Bahadur made a telephone call to a local villager and informed him of his escape. He is still in hiding, and fears to come home.
In order to cover up the incident, Ramma’s family members claim that Bal has been married before, which is an utter lie. They also claim that Ramma has been married earlier with a boy in Achham District, and also has a 4-year-old son.
I request the relevant authorities to conduct a prompt and proper investigation into this incident of inter-caste marriage. The safety and security of Bal, his family, and Ramma must be ensured, and Bal’s family must receive appropriate medical treatment and compensation.
I look forward to your prompt action in this matter.
Yours Sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers of Nepal
Singh Durbar, Kathmandu
P.O. Box: 23312
NEPAL
Tel: +977 1 4211000
Fax: +977 1 4211086
Email: info@opmcm.gov.np
2. Mr. Janardan Sharma
Home Minister
Ministry of Home Affairs
Singh Durbar, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Fax: +977 1 421-1257, 421-1286
Email: gunaso@moha.gov.np
3. Mr. Anupraj Sharma
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
Pulchowk, Lalitpur
NEPAL
Fax: +977 1 55 47973
Tel: +977 1 5010015
E-mail: complaints@nhrcnepal.org or nhrc@nhrcnepal.org
4. Mr. Basanta Ram Bhandari
Attorney General
Office of Attorney General
Ramshah Path, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Tel: +977 1 4240210, +977 1 4262548, +977 1 4262394
Fax: +977 1 4262582 / 4218051
Email: info@attorneygeneral.gov.np
5. Mr. Prakash Aryal
Inspector General of Police
Police Head Quarters
Naxal, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Fax: +977 1 4415593
Tel: +977 1 4412432
Email: phqigs@nepalpolice.gov.np
6. Mr. Sitaram Ghale
Member Secretary
National Dalit Commission
NEPAL
Fax: +977 1 5531148
Phone: +977 1 5531148
Email: info@ndc.gov.np
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (ua@ahrc.asia)
