Two Young Dalit Children Burnt Alive In Haryana

By Countercurrents.org

20 October, 2015
Countercurrents.org

Vaibhav and Divya/Photo Credit India Today

Two young children from a Dalit family were burnt alive and their parents suffered injuries after their home in a Haryana village about 40 km from the Indian national capital New Delhi, was set afire allegedly by some persons from upper caste community deep in the night on Monday while the family were sleeping.

Vaibhav, who was two-and-a-half years old, and his sister, 11-month-old Divya, died on the spot after the attackers allegedly poured petrol and set the house ablaze. Their mother Rekha suffered 70 per-cent burns and has been referred to Delhi for treatment while their father Jitender too suffered injuries while trying to save his family

The incident occurred at around 2 am Tuesday in Sonped village on the outskirts of Delhi, according to police.

Jitender alleged that the attackers were from upper caste Rajput community and the family had a confrontation with them in October after which a case had been registered. "We were sleeping when they poured petrol from the window. I smelt the petrol and tried to wake up my wife but by then the fire had started. My children died in the fire...," said a wailing Jitender.

"They had threatened me that they will finish my family, That I should never return to the village... I won't but please give me back my children," he said.
The incident has led to tension in the area.

Two people have been arrested in connection with the case and an investigation is on to nab the other suspects.