Feudal brutality in Punjab

Dalit agricultural labour activist Bant Singh persisted in seeking justice for his daughter who was raped by upper caste Jat landlords.

A doctor demanded a bribe and would not treat him after a horrific beating. When Mr. Singh was finally treated it was too late and he lost both his hands and a leg. His remaining leg is in danger from gangrene and his kidneys have been damaged.

Bant Singh waited for over a month for the local Panchayat [a council of elected members taking decisions on issues key to a village's social, cultural and economic life] to deliver justice for his daughter. The panchayat passed their judgement: Baljit must marry one of her rapists who was a Dalit, and all the rapists including one Jat man were to go scot free. Bant Singh refused to agree to condemn his daughter to life-long rape and filed a court case in defiance of the panchayat decree. Braving both threats of violence and threats of bribes, he and his daughter stood firm in their struggle for justice. In the process they drew closer to the CPI ML and the Mazdoor Mukti Morcha, which supported their struggle, and eventually, in 2004, Justice G.K. Rai, the Additional Sessions Judge of Mansa, passed a strongly worded judgement sentencing three of the rapists for life.

On the evening of January 5, 2006 as Bant Singh returned home after campaigning for a national agricultural labour assembly to be held in Andhra Pradesh later during the month, the upper castes wrought their revenge.

"They've only got my limbs," said Mr. Singh, "I have still got my voice - I can still sing!"

Financial support to:

In Britain, you can contribute by sending a cheque made out to South Asia Solidarity Group, marked on the back "Bant Singh treatment fund." Please send the cheques to

South Asia Solidarity Group
c/o LONDEC
293-299 Kentish Town Road
London NW5 2TJ.

Alternatively you can send a money order from anywhere in the world directly to

AIALA
c/o CPI (ML) Central Office, U-90
Shakarpur, Delhi 110092
India

and mark it "Bant Singh Treatment Fund."

URGENT Petition re Bant Singh. South Asia Solidarity Group, 2/3/06 (emphasis added).

We are telling you, folks, this rule of law deal and the Western civic culture that we take for granted is unbelievably precious. Justice G.K. Rai, the Additional Sessions Judge of Mansa, is entitled to our respect for what he did.