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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Death penalty for Dalit murders | Death penalty for Dalit murders |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A court in the western Indian state of Maharashtra has sentenced six people to death for killing four members of a lower-caste Dalit family in 2006. | A court in the western Indian state of Maharashtra has sentenced six people to death for killing four members of a lower-caste Dalit family in 2006. |
| Another two were sentenced to life in prison. All eight were found guilty last week. Three others were acquitted. | Another two were sentenced to life in prison. All eight were found guilty last week. Three others were acquitted. |
| The Dalits, a woman, daughter and two sons, were killed by an upper-caste mob in a land row. The husband escaped. | The Dalits, a woman, daughter and two sons, were killed by an upper-caste mob in a land row. The husband escaped. |
| The case led to widespread protests. Crimes against Dalits, formerly known as untouchables, often go unpunished. | The case led to widespread protests. Crimes against Dalits, formerly known as untouchables, often go unpunished. |
| The prosecution argued that the killings were caste-related, but the court rejected the allegation. Prosecutors plan to appeal. | The prosecution argued that the killings were caste-related, but the court rejected the allegation. Prosecutors plan to appeal. |
| Discrimination against Dalits, who are at the bottom of the centuries-old Hindu caste system, is a punishable offence in India. | |
| Even so, campaigners say violence against Dalits is on the rise. | |
| Raped | Raped |
| The brutal killings took place on 29 September 2006 in a remote village called Khairlanji, in Bhandara district in the north-east of the state. | The brutal killings took place on 29 September 2006 in a remote village called Khairlanji, in Bhandara district in the north-east of the state. |
| Dalits are often the victims of inter caste violence | Dalits are often the victims of inter caste violence |
| Surekha Bhotmange, her 17-year-old daughter Priyanka and two sons, 19-year-old Roshan and 21-year-old Sudhir, were at home when an upper-caste mob broke into their mud hut and murdered them. | Surekha Bhotmange, her 17-year-old daughter Priyanka and two sons, 19-year-old Roshan and 21-year-old Sudhir, were at home when an upper-caste mob broke into their mud hut and murdered them. |
| The four were dragged out and beaten with bicycle chains, sticks and other weapons, the court in Bhandara heard. | The four were dragged out and beaten with bicycle chains, sticks and other weapons, the court in Bhandara heard. |
| The mother and daughter were stripped and raped by the mob, prosecutors said. The women's bodies were found in a nearby canal the next day. | The mother and daughter were stripped and raped by the mob, prosecutors said. The women's bodies were found in a nearby canal the next day. |
| Surekha's husband, Bhaiyyalal Bhotmange, managed to escape and hid behind a tree from where he watched his family being killed. | Surekha's husband, Bhaiyyalal Bhotmange, managed to escape and hid behind a tree from where he watched his family being killed. |
| He pursued the case with the support of several human rights activists. | He pursued the case with the support of several human rights activists. |
| Death sentences are relatively rare in India - and even more rarely carried out. | |
| According to law, the death penalty must be confirmed by a higher court, and may be appealed against. | |
| Menial | Menial |
| The killings led to widespread protests across Maharashtra and in November 2006 the case was handed over to the Central Bureau for Investigation (CBI). | The killings led to widespread protests across Maharashtra and in November 2006 the case was handed over to the Central Bureau for Investigation (CBI). |
| A month later, the agency charged 11 people with criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly with deadly weapons, murder, trespass, outraging the modesty of women, destruction of evidence and caste-related offences. | A month later, the agency charged 11 people with criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly with deadly weapons, murder, trespass, outraging the modesty of women, destruction of evidence and caste-related offences. |
| About 10.2% of Maharashtra's population of about 100 million belong to the Dalit community. | About 10.2% of Maharashtra's population of about 100 million belong to the Dalit community. |
| In the traditional Hindu caste system, Dalits were considered the lowest of the low castes. | In the traditional Hindu caste system, Dalits were considered the lowest of the low castes. |
| They were expected to do the most menial jobs in villages. They could not share basic amenities, including drinking water, with upper-caste people. | They were expected to do the most menial jobs in villages. They could not share basic amenities, including drinking water, with upper-caste people. |
| Such practices still exist in rural areas. | Such practices still exist in rural areas. |