UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan Lead In Violence Against Dalits

The recent police brutality incident with Guna Dalit farmer couple has once again heated up the argument of violence against Dalits across the country. Violence against Dalits is recorded in all the states of the country, but states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat are most infamous in when it comes to caste-related violence. This is also evident from the data of the National Crime Records Bureau.

According to the NCRB, as per the population ratio, Bihar has the highest rate of Dalit violence at 42.6 percent. On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh is at number two with 41.9 percent cases and Rajasthan is at number three with 37.7 percent cases.

Statistics show that in the year 2018, the highest number of 239 Dalit killings occurred in Uttar Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh is second with 87 Dalits killed and Rajasthan with 71 Dalits killed. Both states are currently ruled by the BJP.

The condition of women is worse in the Dalit community that has been facing caste violence for centuries. NCRB figures show that 526 Dalit women were raped in UP in 2018. 474-474 Dalit women in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan had to face sexual violence like rape.

Cases of Dalit violence is increasing year after year in the country. According to NCRB data, 40,743 cases of Dalit violence were reported across the country in 2016, which increased to 42,748 in 2018. The maximum increase was in Bihar, where 5,701 cases of caste violence were reported in 2016, and in 2018 the figure reached 7,061. In Maharashtra, cases of Dalit violence increased from 1,750 to 1,974 between 2016 and 2018. Similarly, 10,426 cases were reported in Uttar Pradesh in 2016 which increased to 11,924 in 2018.