Exactly 10 years after the Una flogging case shook the country, the lives of the survivors have once again been thrown into uncertainty. In 2016, five Dalit men from Una were brutally assaulted for handling the carcass of a cow that had been killed by a lion.
After the attack, the survivors left behind the traditional work that had led to the assault. With financial assistance from political parties, they bought four cows and rebuilt their lives through farming and dairy activities to support their families.
However, last month, tragedy struck again when lions killed two of those cows in separate attacks, creating fresh financial difficulties for their families.
‘We Left That Work Behind, But Our Problems Continue’, Survivor Vashram Sarvaiya said the family has not skinned dead cattle since the 2016 assault.
“We now depend on farming and animal husbandry for our livelihood. But losing two cows to lion attacks has made life difficult once again. We are a family of 18, and the loss of the cattle has reduced our income by half,” he said.
Lion Entered the Cattle Shed
Vashram said that sightings of lions are common in their village. On the day of the incident, a lion entered the cattle shed outside their home and killed two cows. The family immediately informed the village head, who recorded the details and followed the required official procedure.
The 2016 Una Flogging Case
The Una flogging case drew nationwide attention after videos surfaced showing five Dalit men tied to a vehicle and publicly beaten with iron rods and sticks by a self-styled cow vigilante group near Mota Samadhiyala village in Gir Somnath district on July 11, 2016. The men had been handling the carcass of a cow that had been killed by a lion when they were attacked.
Forced to Leave Their Traditional Occupation
The incident triggered widespread protests across Gujarat and sparked a national debate on caste violence and cow vigilantism. The survivors said the attack forced them to abandon the occupation their families had depended on for generations.
Financial assistance received from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and BSP chief Mayawati helped them purchase four cows and begin earning through dairy farming instead.
Mental and Physical Trauma Still Remains
Even after a decade, the survivors say the effects of the assault continue to impact their daily lives. According to Vashram, the attack had a severe effect on the mental health of his brothers. One of them is undergoing psychiatric treatment for trauma and is unable to live independently. Other brothers continue to suffer from physical injuries and emotional trauma that have been slow to heal.
Families Say Rehabilitation Promises Were Never Fulfilled
The families claim that much of the rehabilitation promised after the incident remained only on paper. Another survivor, Balu Sarvaiya, said the families are still waiting for what they consider complete justice.
“We have neither received the rehabilitation promised by the government nor the support needed to rebuild our lives. Even after 10 years, we still struggle to lead normal lives,” he said.
Claims Over Unfulfilled Government Assurances
Vashram said that then Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel had announced that the families would receive five acres of agricultural land, residential plots and government jobs during her visit to the village.
However, in 2018, the Gujarat government informed the Legislative Assembly that there was no written record of those announcements, leaving no official proposal for implementation, according to the survivors.
Cheque Also Allegedly Bounced
The survivors further alleged that a cheque handed over by a political leader after the incident later bounced, adding to their disappointment.
A Decade Later, The Struggle Continues
Ten years after the Una flogging case became a symbol of the fight against caste violence, the survivors say they are still battling the consequences of that day.
After giving up the occupation that led to the attack and rebuilding their lives through farming and dairy work, the recent lion attacks have once again pushed their families into financial uncertainty. Along with ongoing physical, mental and economic challenges, they say they are still waiting for the rehabilitation, support and justice they were promised.
Also Read: 12-Year-Old Boy Killed After Being Dragged Away By Lion On Girnar Steps In Gujarat https://www.vibesofindia.com/12-year-old-boy-killed-after-being-dragged-away-by-lion-on-girnar-steps-in-gujarat/
