Social Boycott in Chamoli: Dalit Families Ostracized for One Man's Illness

A remote village in Chamoli district has sparked outrage after its local panchayat implemented a social boycott against Dalit families. The boycott was triggered when a scheduled caste community member, Pushkar Lal, was too ill to fulfill his traditional role of playing the drum at a religious event.

Subhai village's panchayat, located near the India-China border, handed down the order, affecting around half a dozen Dalit families. They have been prohibited from accessing essential resources like forest and water, buying from local shops, using vehicles, and entering temples.

A video has surfaced showing a panchayat member threatening villagers with similar consequences if they disobeyed. The victimized families have filed a police complaint, naming Ramkrishna Khandwal and Yashvir Singh as the instigators of the social boycott.

(With inputs from agencies.)