LAHAN, AUG 06 - Siraha police hasa helped a Dalit family from Dhangadhi-3 in gaining access to a water well. The family of 65-year-old Pulakit Mallik Dom had been barred from drawing water from the well by the villagers on account of them being “untouchable” class.
A team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Uma Chaturbedi on Wednesday visited the neighbourhood and allowed the Dom family use the community well in front of other villagers.
DSP Chaturbedi said a police team will be stationed at the settlement until the situation gets normal.
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The so-called upper caste people in the village had suddenly prohibited Dom’s family from using the well from Sunday. Earlier, the family were made to pay money for drawing water from the well constructed by local Ramutar Mahato.
“We couldn’t cook our meals because there was no water. The children had to stay hungry,” complained Dom’s wife Pramiladevi.
The Dom family has been living in the village since 1950. They had no problem drawing water from the well until Saturday when Nepali actor Rajesh Hamal visited the village to attend a programme.
“After Rajesh Hamal arrived in our community and observed the well, the villagers started obstructing us from fetching water,” said Dom.
After the Dom family started using the well, the other villagers have stopped using its water in a show of spite.
Anita Sadaya Mushahar, a local woman, said the villagers had forbade the Dom family to fetch water from the well because of hygiene issue.
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