Ajay Marik, Rita Devi Marik and Binod Basfor, resident of Dharan Municipality, Sunsari were subjected to caste discrimination.

Case: Caste discrimination

Date and time of incident: January, 04, 2014

Location: Chhata Chowk, Dharan

Alleged perpetrator:  Nanda Lal Sah, Director,  Parvati Sweats Corner

Source of Information: Blast Daily newspaper

 

Background:   Proprietor  of Parvati Sweats Corner Nanda Lal Sah is accused of discriminating Ajay, Rita and Binod for being Dalits. Ajay who  is a staff at the Dharan Municipality, said the shop owner discriminated him in front of his guest when he went  to have  tea at the shop. The three victims said the shopkeeper called them Dom and mistreated them. He said when he went to the shop at 8 am on Saturday, the shop owner denied to serve them tea and pushed them away from the shop. Not only that, the shop owner  poured hot tea on his wife Rita Devi Marik.

 But, She’s  son said he didn't serve them  tea because his mother falls sick. According to Binod Basfor who works at B.P Korala Institute of Health Science Nanda Lal also discriminated them. The victims have filed a complaint at the Area Police Office  against this act of caste discrimination seeking compensation from the perpetrator. A police team deployed under Inspector Mukund Rijal of Area Police Office arrested Sah.   Police Inspector Rijal said action will be taken against the perpetrator in accordance  with anti-cast discrimination law.

 Rajkishor son of Nanda Lal said, his mother falls sick when she comes in contact with Doms and that was the only reason they told them to go to a different tea shop.  Rajkishor, however, denied mistreating the three victims. He said the three people were told to go out after they started touching the sweets at the shop. “I have served them tea many times when my mother was not in the shop.  I only told them not to come to our shop when my mother is around,” he added.    Rajkishor said, these people came to his shop with the intention to pick a fight. His mother told them that they were not discriminated on grounds of caste.

Dalit activists said when his mother Parvati came to the  Area police Office, she looked sick but she could be faking her illness. Role of Institution: This case is being investigated by National Human Rights Commission. Area police Office has kept the alleged perpetrator in the custody and investigating the case as per anti-cast discrimination act.