Dalits Facing Boycott in Andhra Village Get a ‘Peace Committee’ but No FIR

Visakhapatnam: Dalit residents faced a social boycott last week in a village in Andhra Pradesh, in deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan's Pithapuram constituency, following the accidental death of an electrical worker. Human rights groups have sharply criticised officials for allegedly prioritising a hastily formed 'peace committee' over registering a legally mandated case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against those who enforced the boycott.

The incident occurred in Mallam village, Kakinada district. Pallapu Suresh Babu (38), a Dalit electrical worker from the village's SC Colony, was electrocuted and died on April 16 while working at the home of Elisetti Jellababu, who belongs to the dominant Kapu caste from Mallam Pedda Veedhi (Main Street). Suresh Babu is survived by his wife and two school-age children.

Following the death, Suresh Babu's community members demanded compensation from the house owner, Jellababu. An agreement was privately reached the next day for Rs 2.70 lakh. However, tensions rose when only Rs 70,000 was allegedly paid, because Jellababu, despite belonging to the politically and numerically dominant Kapu community, was not wealthy.

Pallapu Suresh Babu (38), a Dalit electrical worker from the village's SC Colony, died from electrocution. Photo: Human Rights Forum

"When only Rs 70,000 was paid as compensation, the issue flared up. The victim's family and members of the Dalit community immediately protested near the village's Ambedkar statue, demanding justice," Namadi Sridhar, General Secretary of the Human Rights Forum (HRF), told The Wire. 

"We believe it was precisely this act of Dalits daring to demand justice publicly that led to the social boycott," he said.

On April 18 and 19, members allegedly from the Kapu community imposed a social boycott against the entire Dalit community in the SC Colony. An HRF fact-finding team visiting on April 22 reported that traders were pressured not to sell essentials to Dalits, and transport was denied.

“We go to work to make paper plates daily. Ever since the youth from our colony died, they told us not to come to work. Our people demanded justice, so they are punishing us like this," one Dalit woman told a news channel.

Another elderly Dalit man, Chandra Rao, recounted to a news channel, “We belong to the Dalit caste. As usual, we went to have tea at 5 in the morning at a Kapu hotel... They told us, 'Chandrarao, our elders told us not to give you people tea or tiffins, so you can leave.' When they said that, I left."

Official response draws flak

Local officials formed a 'peace committee' with members from both communities, ostensibly to prevent clashes. Many condemned this, arguing it prioritised a superficial truce over legal accountability.

"In such situations, it is indeed necessary for officials to maintain law and order. Forming a peace committee as a precaution is also appropriate," Sridhar said. "However, the first step should have been to register a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against those who instigated and carried out the social boycott... Instead, to cover up the crime committed out of dominant caste arrogance, they hastily formed a peace committee.” 

Sridhar suggested the boycott was punitive. "The victim's family protested for justice near the Ambedkar statue, which angered the Kapu community. Fearing that allowing Dalits to seek justice through public protest might set a precedent, the Kapus decided to 'teach them a lesson,' resulting in a social boycott," he told The Wire.

Social activist Thota Rambabu, also part of the fact-finding team, told The Wire that officials "deliberately bypassed the crucial, unavoidable, and legal step of registering a case." He questioned using peace committees to resolve a crime. "Doesn't 'imposing an economic or social boycott or threatening to boycott a person, family, or group belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes' fall under the purview of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act?" he asked.

"Does reaching a compromise, announcing compensation, arranging apologies, and forming a peace committee negate the crime? Does it make the crime unpunishable? Does it erase the humiliation suffered by the Dalits?" Rambabu added, warning that this approach appeared "solely aimed at protecting the accused" and could make Mallam a "model" for circumventing justice.

Pattern of discrimination

Sridhar said Dalit residents reported longstanding discrimination. "Even now, Dalits cannot get a haircut or shave in the village. They must travel to Pithapuram town or Kakinada," he told The Wire. "When young people mentioned this... even the elderly residents with white hair confirmed they faced the same discrimination since their youth.”

A fact-finding team of the Human Rights Forum in Pithapuram constituency. Photo: Human Rights Forum

This boycott follows previous violence. Activist Raajamani, who conducted a fact-finding in Mallam after a 2022 incident, shared details with The Wire.

"Attacking, beating, and abusing SCs/STs is nothing new in Mallam," Raajamani said, recounting events from April 14, 2022, when Dalits celebrating Ambedkar Jayanti were hurled abuses at. "When a Dalit youth posted photos of the celebration on Instagram, Karedla Tarun, a Kapu youth, responded with abusive comments," she said.

According to Raajamani, elders intervened, and Tarun performed a 'Palabhishekam' (milk ablution) on the Ambedkar statue on April 18, 2022. This act allegedly bred resentment.

Weeks later, on April 29, 2022, during the Onumulamma Jatara (festival) in the village, violence erupted. "Five SC youths went to watch the Jatara. When they arrived, Kapu youths shouted, 'Why did you come here?', and beat an SC youth named Datla Arjun until he bled," Raajamani recounted. 

She alleged that later that night, a Kapu mob attacked the Dalit colony (Mala Peta). "While they were hurling obscenities at women and tearing Dalit women's blouses, a Dalit teacher named Kaditi Krishnarao objected. They dragged Krishnarao away and grievously injured him. He collapsed from severe bleeding. They also brutally beat Randa Ramasathyanarayana, his wife, and Datla Arjun's mother."

Raajamani stated that while the injured were hospitalised, police under the then-YSR Congress Party government filed only a "nominal FIR." 

"While that case remains pending, they have now imposed another social boycott. How much longer will they continue this vengeful caste discrimination?" she lamented, demanding accountability from Kapu leader Pawan Kalyan, now Deputy CM.

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