1997 Ramabai killings

Mass killings of Dalits in Mumbai, India July 2020 November 2018 1997 Ramabai killings Caste-related violence in India 11 July 1997 Ramabai colony, Mumbai 19 04 26.9 N 72 55 10.6 E title Police violence Special Reserve Police Force (SRPF) Dalit protesters Manohar Kadam (SRPF sub-Inspector) 10 killed, 26 injured Mumbai#Maharashtra The 1997 Ramabai killings were a mass killing of Dalit residents of the Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar colony in Mumbai on 11 July 1997. A team of State Reserve Police Force members fired upon a crowd protesting the recent desecration of a statue of Constitution maker B. R. Ambedkar. 10 Dalits were killed and 26 injured in the incident.Smita Narula Human Rights Watch (Organization) Broken People: Caste Violence Against India's "untouchables". https://books.google.com/books?id=Kd28Ay09adgC&pg=PA137 1999 Human Rights Watch 978-1-56432-228-9 137 The statue of Ambedkar was defaced with a garland of shoes which angered the Dalits. The Dalits took to the street and the police opened fire killing 10 Dalits. Police officer Manohar Kadam, who allegedly ordered the firing, was released on bail in 2009. Attacks Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar is a predominantly Dalit urban colony in the city of Mumbai. On 11 July 1997, a statue of Ambedkar in front of the colony was found to have had a garland of sandals placed around its neck, in an act widely seen as a desecration. The outraged residents of the colony complained to the nearest police station, Local Beat No. 5 Pantnagar Police, which happened to be located a few metres from the statue. The complainants were instead directed to the Pantnagar police station. A crowd of protesters began to form, and by 7 AM had blocked the highway that ran in front of the colony. A team of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) members arrived a few minutes later, and opened fire on the crowd with live ammunition. The firing continued for 10–15 minutes, and killed 10 people, including a bystander who had not been involved in the protests. The protests then grew more violent. At approximately 11:30 AM, a luxury bus was set ablaze. In response, about 25 police officers entered Ramabai Colony, deployed tear gas and began a lathi charge. By the end of the day 26 people had been seriously injured, and Local Beat No. 5 had been destroyed by the protesters. Commentators on the event suggested that the excessive use of force was motivated by caste-based prejudice against the Dalit protesters. This was because the sub-Inspector who led the police force stood accused in multiple cases involving caste-based discrimination. Vilas Ghogre, a Dalit activist, poet, and artist, committed suicide in protest at the event.http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?280573 https://web.archive.org/web/20120416214847/http://outlookindia.com/article.aspx?280573 dead 16 April 2012 Between Red And Blue Outlook India 1 January 2014 Trial Following the killing, the Maharashtra Government appointed the Gundewar commission to enquire into the issue in November 1997.http://www.indianexpress.com/news/12-yrs-on-life-term-to-cop-who-ordered-ramabai-nagar-firing/456105/0 12 yrs on, life term to cop who ordered Ramabai Nagar firing The Indian Express 8 May 2009 2012-04-21 In 1999, the commission published its report. Two years later a case was filed in a sessions court against Manohar Kadam. A few years later, it was transferred to the Crime Investigation Department, which filed a charge-sheet in 2006. In 2009, the sessions court found Kadam guilty of "homicide amounting to murder," and sentenced him to life-imprisonment.https://archive.mid-day.com/news/2009/may/080509-Manohar-Kadam-Convicted-cop-Suspended-SRPF-Sub-Inspector-Ramabai-Nagar-Firing-life-sentence.htm My father did no wrong 8 May 2009 Vinod Kumar Menon Mid-Day 10 November 2018 August 2026 InternetArchiveBot https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/Sub-inspector-gets-life-term-for-ordering-fire-on-Dalits/article16593388.ece https://web.archive.org/web/20251009022559/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/Sub-inspector-gets-life-term-for-ordering-fire-on-Dalits/article16593388.ece live 9 October 2025 Sub-inspector gets life term for ordering fire on Dalits The Hindu 9 May 2009 subscription 10 November 2018 However, the sentence was later revoked by the high-court, and released him on bail.Sukanya Shetty http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/ramabai-nagar-firing-two-accused-of-attacking-cops-fail-to-appear-in-court-land-in-jail/737710/ Ramabai Nagar firing: two accused of attacking cops fail to appear in court, land in jail Express India 2012-04-21 February 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes In April 2011, the protesters who had been arrested for setting the bus on fire were acquitted, with the court finding that they had not been present during the incident.http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_ramabai-nagar-firing-case-8-rioters-acquitted-in-mumbai_1531579 Ramabai Nagar firing case: 8 rioters acquitted in Mumbai - Mumbai - DNA Dnaindia.com 2012-04-21 In media Indian documentary film-maker Anand Patwardhan, a friend of Vilas Ghogre, created a documentary based on the incident, entitled Jai Bhim Comrade.http://www.tehelka.com/story_main52.asp?filename=hub280412Song.asp India's Independent Weekly News Magazine Tehelka 2012-04-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20120428065700/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main52.asp?filename=hub280412Song.asp 28 April 2012 dead Patwardhan stated that the filming took 14 years because he was waiting for the accused policemen to be jailed, and the residents of the colony to be acquitted.Priyanka Borpujari http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article2836663.ece https://web.archive.org/web/20120929014807/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article2836663.ece dead 29 September 2012 Arts / Cinema : A film with a difference The Hindu 2012-01-28 2012-04-22 See also Vandalism of Ambedkar statues 2006 Dalit protests in Maharashtra; a set of protests also in response to the desecration of a statue of Ambedkar. Caste-related violence in India References Category:1997 mass murders Category:Caste-related violence in India Category:Police brutality in India Category:Violence against Dalits Category:Mass murders in Mumbai Category:1990s in Mumbai Category:July 1997 in India Category:1997 murders in India Category:20th-century mass murders in India Category:Killings by law enforcement officers in India