Caste discord appears to be on the rise in Bhandara district, where the gruesome murders of four members of the Dalit Bhotmange family took place at Khairlanji village on September 29, leading to widespread protests across the nation. According to statistics available with The Indian Express, the number of offences registered under Prevention of Atrocities (SC, ST) Act (POA) has doubled in the past five months.

Confirming the numbers, Bhandara District Collector Indra Malo Jain said, “After the brutal Khairlanji incident, the issue had become emotive and may have led to more awareness among SCs and STs. That could be a reason for the spurt.” Asked if it signified growing inter-caste tensions, Jain said, “The social frame has become agitated and underlying tensions have become sharply outlined.”

Regarding measures undertaken by the administration to tackle the situation, she said. “We are seeing to it that all cases are immediately probed. On the first Monday of every month, we have a review of POA cases.”

The rise in POA offences have risen particularly more in Bhandara city and tahsil places of Lakhandur, Paoni and Tumsar.

Incidentally, Bhandara is one of the 100 most backward districts in the country where Rashtriya Samvikas Yojana is being implemented.

Post-Khairlanji, the caste divide is sharper in Bhandara. Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal had raked up a 10-year-old girl’s rape and murder case in which a Scheduled Caste was the accused. The city had observed a tense bandh demanding his arrest about two months ago.

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