PILER demands arrest of DSP

KARACHI - The Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) and Pakistan Dalit Solidarity Network (PDSN) have condemned the rape of a Dalit woman in Umerkot district by DSP Samaro Sher Khan Rind. In a joint statement here on Friday, PILER’s Joint Director Zulfiqar Shah and PDSN Coordinator Malji Kohi condemned the inhuman behaviour of police with the citizens and demanded the government and Inspector General of Police, Sindh to immediately take sever action against the accused.DSP Samaro had allegedly raped the Dalit woman, Lajo Kolhi in village Daro Mori in Samaro Taluka. The accused came in police mobile along with colleagues. and picked up the woman from her house and allegedly raped her at his bungalow, the family said.Now DSP Samaro is trying to save his skin accusing the victim’s family of selling narcotics in the area. The DSP has a very bad reputation and what he is doing to the family of the victim tantamount to harassment, but as he has law on his side he is getting away with it.Ms Lajo and her husband belong are poor farmers and they earn their daily livelihood by doing agriculture labour.“We strongly condemn the violent and cruel act of the DSP and demand IG Police, the government, the Home Department and the Chief Minister to immediately issue arrest orders of the accused police officer and bring him to justice,” the statement says. They also appealed to Chief Justice of Sindh High Court to take suo moto action and order judicial inquiry into the incident.This cruel act is in violation of the Constitution of Pakistan, which protects the rights of all citizens including non Muslims and treats them as equal citizens. 94 percent of Hindus are living in Sindh and majority of them are Dalits. These communities are treated as seconded class citizen. They already suffer as low caste Hindus, and doors of education and other basic facilities are closed to them. Dalits are denied fundamental rights such as education, health, employment and shelters in rural areas. They are the most vulnerable part of the society. They always face the religious and social discrimination because of their social status.

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