Barmer (Rajasthan): Following a 48 hours standoff with the state administration the family members of the Dalit man who was allegedly lynched in Rajasthan's Barmer district, the family members of the deceased have agreed to get the post-mortem done. The development comes nearly two days after the family members refused to collect the body from the morgue for performing his last rites while a silent protest rally was taken out on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti on Friday by the members of the community.
However, the family members have made it clear that their protest will continue until their demands are fulfilled. They have demanded financial compensation of Rs 1 crore for the victim's family and government jobs for two members of the family.
The 40-year-old Dalit man, identified as Kojaram Meghwal was beaten to death in Asadi village on Wednesday by a group of six to seven persons over an old rivalry over land. He was taken to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries on the way. Police later detained three persons in connection with the incident.
The incident has triggered off anger among people of the district's Dalit community. The people of the community are continuing with their sit-in-demonstration in front of the morgue since Kojaram's death. All programs that were scheduled on Ambedkar Jayanti have also been cancelled. A silent protest march was taken out in the city carrying banners seeking justice for Kojaram. The procession started from the city's Ambedkar Circle and reached the Station Road through several main roads, where people of the Dalit community sat on the roads and demonstrated peacefully. Then, they marched to the mortuary of the District Hospital where the sit-in-demonstration was being held.
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Former coordinator of the Ambedkar Jayanti Committee Rahul Bamania said that there is an outrage among the people of Dalit society over the brutal murder of Kojaram. He reiterated that the administration should provide Rs one crore financial compensation to the victim's family and government jobs to two family members along with few other benefits. Bhim Army chief Chandrasekhar Azad will come to Barmer on Saturday to join in the protest. Azad will press for justice for the victim's family.
District Collector Lokbandhu termed the incident unfortunate. He said police have detained three persons in the case and assured that culprits will not be spared. All kinds of government assistance will be provided as per the norms, he said. Strict security arrangements are in place in view of the protest.
