On 14 September 2021, a 23-year-old tribal man identified as Bijili Mallesh was killed by a group of non-tribals during Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at Molgara village under Bhootpur block in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana. The deceased belonged to Yerukala tribal community. According to media reports, the incident happened around 10 pm on 14 September when Mallesh and his friends went to the local Ganesh mandap to watch dancing being performed by some locals as part of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.Mallesh and his friends were not allowed to participate in the dance as they belonged to the ST community. This led to the clashes in which Mallesh was beaten up. Mallesh was hit on the chest and head repeatedly and he collapsed within minutes. He was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed early next day.
IRAC has sought the intervention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) as the above act of caste-based discrimination and violence constitutes a punishable offense under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.
While condemning the incident, IRAC has demanded immediate intervention of the NHRC and sought the following measures:
– Direct the state government of Telanganato order a judicial inquiry into themurder of Bijili Malleshby non-tribal members at Molgara village in Mahabubnagardistrict and submit a report to the NHRC within four weeks;
– Direct the state government of Telangana to immediately arrest all the accused and prosecute them under the relevant provisions of the law including the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act;
– Direct the state government of Telangana to pay an interim compensation of Rs 10 lakhs to the next of kin of the deceased; and
– Take any other measures which the NHRC deems fit and proper.