Nearly 180 Dalit families in Saharanpur announced that they have embraced Buddhism in protest against the intentional targeting of the community and the Bhim Army by police following the caste-related violence between the Dalits and the Thakurs in the district.
The families from Rupdi, Egri and Kapurpur villages on Thursday also threatened that more Dalits would convert to Buddhism, if police did not release the members of the community arrested during in the district.
On 5 May, clashes erupted in Shabbirpur after a procession was taken out by the Thakurs commemorating Maharana Pratap. Dalits alleged provocation, anti-Ambedkar sloganeering and desecration of a Ravidass temple by the Thakurs.
Around 50 houses were gutted, around 17 were injured and a man lost his life.
DIG JK Shahi, while commenting on the conversion said, “Faith is a personal choice.”
On allegations by the families, he said, “Action will only be taken against the guilty, no innocent will face charges.”
Senior-SP Subhash Chand Dubey said, “I am yet to learn about the incident. Religion is a personal choice.”
(With inputs from PTI.)
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