by Prakash Dubey

The attack by hundreds of upper caste Hindus was planned. Dalit women are among those who were physically assaulted. Despite an agreement between political parties and the local administration, which allows Dalits to enter the temple, police has failed to stop caste violence.

Kathmandu (AsiaNews) – More than 50 Dalits, women included, were physically assaulted last Sunday during what can only be described as a full-scale attack by hundreds by upper caste Hindus in Silgadhi, a town in the western district of Doti. Many of the victims are now resting in critical conditions.

The attack was prompted by the Dalits' attempt to enter the local Shaileswori temple to worship. Under an existing agreement between Maoist rebels, district administrators and Hindu priests, Dalits can enter the temple under police escort. However, upper castes Hindus have not accepted the agreement which they view as a "desecration".

Till recently though there had been no violence. Shouting pro-king slogans and against political parties, the attackers stormed the offices of some of the organisations fighting caste discrimination, smashing property. In the Nepal Dalit Women Association, computers were damaged and documents destroyed. Journalists who there were also attacked and forced to escape.

Dharma Singh Bishwokarma, coordinator of Dalit United Struggle Committee, told AsiaNews that the incident could have been prevented if the district administration had taken proper precautionary measures. "But the administration did nothing despite clear signs that upper caste Hindus were preparing to prevent Dalits from entering the temple. Upper caste Hindus want Nepal to remain a Hindu Kingdom," he said.

Speaking to AsiaNews, Norbert Rai, a Christian human rights activist, said that although parliament has officially declared Nepal a secular state, "upper caste Hindu fundamentalists don't accept that and there is a real danger that sectarian and caste violence might be set off if the government does not remain vigilant."

"I doubt the government and the local administration are going to be too concern about violence against lower castes since most of them are upper caste anyway and secretly favour their own caste," he said. "I wonder what can happen to non Hindu minorities when the government does not even protect Hindu Dalits."

In Doli district the local administration is trying to mobilise more security forces. The authorities are in fact trying to help hundreds of Dalits forced to flee their homes by upper caste Hindus to go back.

But according to Bishwokarma, "many [Dalits] are haunted by fear because their attackers are still free and police is reluctant to arrest them."

• nepal
• temple
• upper
• caste
• violence
• dalits