Dalit case: Social Justice Ministry assures help to victims’ family

Taking a serious note of the incident of burning alive of two Dalit children in Faridabad, Union Minister of Social Justice Thawar Chand Gehlot on Tuesday assured all required assistance to the victim's parents who also sustained injuries in the attack.

Gehlot reacted cautiously to the possibility of caste angle being behind the attack, saying the same can be ascertained only after the probe in this regard. “Two children have died in the incident. Their father is out of danger, but mother has received 75 per cent burn injuries, is what we have been informed.”

He added: “The Haryana government has extended them all the help including medical treatment and financial assistance. We are in constant touch with the Haryana Chief Minister (Manohar Lal Khattar) in this regard. If more help is required, we will look into it.” 

On the possibility of caste angle, he said from the initial reports regarding the incident, it appeared there was “old enmity” between the two families. “But truth will be out only after the probe is over. So, it will not be proper for me to comment on it right now," Gehlot said.

He added MoS for Social Justice Krishna Pal Singh, also the local MP, is keeping a tab on the situation. Gehlot appreciated Khattar taking “immediate” action by declaring a high-level probe into the matter and announcing a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the surviving victims.