Crimes against Dalits rising in Haryana: Bhupinder Singh Hooda

CHANDIGARH: Congress today alleged that there is a spurt in crimes against Dalits in Haryana and the Manohar Lal Khattar government had failed to maintain law and order in the state.

"Law and order has collapsed in Haryana. Atrocities against Dalits have increased manifold in the state under the present regime," former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said.

Expressing discontent over the government's decision to set up an SIT to investigate the Gohana incident, he said a probe by a sitting High Court judge should be ordered into the death of a 15-year-old Dalit boy, accused of stealing a pigeon in Gohana, allegedly in police custody.

"The Chief Minister is claiming that the boy committed suicide whereas there were injury marks on his body," he said.

Hooda said his government had always taken timely action in such cases.

"We took strict action whenever such incidents came to our notice whereas the present government has remained a mute spectator to rising crimes against Dalits," he said.

On the issue of cow protection, he said the government has brought in tougher laws but "did nothing concrete on the ground".