HYDERABAD: Women belonging to the Dalit community on Wednesday held a demonstration outside the local press club to condemn “increasing incidents of kidnapping and forced conversion of the girls of their community.

Led by Radha Bheel of the Dalit Sujag Tehreek, the protesters raised slogans against such incidents and demanded protection to the community.

She claimed that Dalit girls were being kidnapped and forced to convert and marry to Muslims. She said Pooja Gowari, Laila Jogi, Kiran Meghwar, Pani Kolhi, Jaiwanti Kolhi and Lalai Bheel belonging to the Dalit community were some of the examples. She claimed that they all were kidnapped and kept at undisclosed places after being forced to marry.

She regretted that the federal and provincial governments had never taken appropriate measures to check the injustice with the community and its members.

“Dalits are facing serious socio-economic issued but no policy is being framed to improve their living conditions. Nor is being done anything for their welfare,” she said, adding that such an attitude compelling them to leave the country.

She was of the view that despite passage of the Hindu Marriage Act-2016, Dalit families were feeling insecure and harassed. She said women of her community fearing their kidnapping and forced conversion were reluctant to leave their homes. She urged the apex court and government to ensure protection to the Dalit community and help end to the kidnapping of its girls.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2016