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NEPAL: Dalit customer beaten mercilessly by shopkeeper

2020-08-31

Urgent Appeal

Dear Friends,

The Centre for Sustainable Human Rights (CSHR)  has received information that Karna Bahadur Sarki, 42, was mercilessly beaten after he dillydallied in washing utensils after drinking alcohol at a local shop cum eatery, and reportedly urinated in a drunken state. Eatery owner Shova Karki and her son Krishna Karki thrashed Karna Bahadur so that his eyes were swollen and bloodied, and his seventh rib on the left side of the body was broken.

CASE DETAILS: 

Karna Bahadur went to a local shop in Halogade Bazaar of ward number 4, Musikot Municipality, Gulmi District to buy rice. He planned to drink one glass of locally brewed alcohol before buying the rice but ended up drinking three glasses.

As Dalits are required to wash their dishes after eating at local eateries, despite paying for their food and drink, shopkeeper Shova Karki told Karna to wash his glass before leaving the shop. As he was inebriated, Karna lazily went to wash the glass. He then slipped and hit the drum used to keep water for washing dishes, resulting in water pouring down on his body.

Then the shopkeeper claimed that he urinated on the floor. She and her son, Krishna Karki, scolded and hit him mercilessly, and forced him to leave the shop.

Karna Bahadur’s wife took him to a neighbor, Om Bahadur Singh’s house, fearing further thrashing. However, Krishna Karki even came there, and hit Karna Bahadur with a stick, black and blue, until he fell unconscious. Karna Bahadur’s wife pleaded with Krishna to stop the beating, but in vain. She also offered to clean the place where her husband reportedly urinated.

Karna was beaten so severely that he suffered a broken rib and his eyes were bleeding and swollen. Even as he was being taken to the hospital on a stretcher, local non-Dalits harassed him. When local Dalit advocates tried to intervene, they were threatened with serious consequences.

The CSHR demands a prompt and proper investigation into this case. The victim and his family must be provided with safety and security. The perpetrators must be punished as per Caste-based discrimination and Untouchability (Crime and Punishment) Act 2011. The guilty must be punished so that others are deterred from practicing caste-based discrimination and untouchability in the country.

SUGGESTED ACTION: 

Please write letters to the following authorities calling on them to take necessary action against the people involved in this incident. The police authorities must immediately arrest the alleged perpetrators, as there are threats to the victim and his family.



To support this case, please click here:
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear __________,

NEPAL: Dalit customer beaten mercilessly by shopkeeper

Name Of Victim: Karna Bahadur Sarki

Names of alleged perpetrators: Shova Karki and her son Krishna Karki, of Gulmi District

Date of incident: 0000-00-00

Place of incident: Gulmi

I am writing to voice my deep concern as I came to know that Karna Bahadur Sarki, 42, was mercilessly beaten after he dillydallied in washing utensils after drinking alcohol at a local shop cum eatery, and reportedly urinated in a drunken state.

Karna Bahadur went to a local shop in Halogade Bazaar of ward number 4, Musikot Municipality, Gulmi District to buy rice. He planned to drink one glass of locally brewed alcohol before buying the rice, but ended up drinking three glasses.

As Dalits are required to wash their dishes after eating at local eateries, despite paying for their food and drink, shopkeeper Shova Karki told Karna to wash his glass before leaving the shop. As he was inebriated, Karna lazily went to wash the glass. He then slipped and hit the drum used to keep water for washing dishes, resulting in water pouring down on his body.

Then the shopkeeper claimed that he urinated on the floor. She and her son, Krishna Karki, scolded and hit him mercilessly, and forced him to leave the shop.

Karna Bahadur’s wife took him to a neighbor, Om Bahadur Singh’s house, fearing further thrashing. However, Krishna Karki even came there, and hit Karna Bahadur with a stick, black and blue, until he fell unconscious. Karna Bahadur’s wife pleaded with Krishna to stop the beating, but in vain. She also offered to clean the place where her husband reportedly urinated.

Karna was beaten so severely that he suffered a broken rib and his eyes were bleeding and swollen. Even as he was being taken to the hospital on a stretcher, local non-Dalits harassed him. When local Dalit advocates tried to intervene, they were threatened with serious consequences.

I demand a prompt and proper investigation into this case. The victim and his family must be provided safety and security. The perpetrators must be punished as per Caste based discrimination and Untouchability (Crime and Punishment) Act 2011. The guilty must be punished so that others are deterred from practicing caste based discrimination and untouchability in the country.

I look forward to your prompt action in this matter.

Yours Sincerely,

Yours Sincerely,
------------------------------
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mr. K.P. Sharma Oli

Prime Minister

Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers of Nepal

Singh Durbar, Kathmandu

P.O. Box: 23312

NEPAL

Tel: +977 1 4211000

Fax: +977 1 4211086

Email: info@opmcm.gov.np


2. Mr. Ram Bahadur Thapa

Home Minister of Nepal

Ministry of Home Affairs

Singh Durbar, Kathmandu

NEPAL

Fax: +977 1 421-1257, 421-1286

Email: gunaso@moha.gov.np


3. Mr. Anupraj Sharma

Chairperson

National Human Rights Commission

Pulchowk, Lalitpur

NEPAL

Fax: +977 1 55 47973

Tel: +977 1 5010015

E-mail: complaints@nhrcnepal.org or nhrc@nhrcnepal.org


4. Mr. Agni Prasad Kharel

Attorney General

Office of Attorney General

Ramshah Path, Kathmandu

NEPAL

Tel: +977 1 4240210, +977 1 4262548, +977 1 4262394

Fax: +977 1 4262582 / 4218051

Email: info@attorneygeneral.gov.np


5. Mr. Sarbendra Khanal

Inspector General of Police

Police Head Quarters

Naxal, Kathmandu

NEPAL

Fax: +977 1 4415593

Tel: +977 1 4412432

Email: phqigs@nepalpolice.gov.np


6. Mr. Sitaram Ghale

Member Secretary

National Dalit Commission

Lalitpur, Nepal.

P.O. Box:13785, Kathmandu

Phone:+977-1-5531148

Fax:+977-1-5531148

Email:info@ndc.gov.np


Thank you.