Members of the Scheduled Caste community in Jaypura village of East Singhbhum’s Baharagora block have alleged that local barbers have stopped offering them services. Residents said that for the last four weeks all six barber shops in the village have refused to attend to Dalit customers.
“Despite police intervention, they are not serving us,” said 38-year-old Madadev Baitha, a resident of the village. According to the 2011 Census, Jaypura had 347 residents across 54 households, and villagers say the population has grown since then. Baitha said there are nearly 30 Dalit families in the village today.
Another villager claimed that barbers have started charging unusually high rates to keep Dalits away. “When our children go for a haircut, they charge 300 rupees. Even for shaving, they ask for 100 rupees,” said 50-year-old Rakhahari Mukhi.
Community members first complained to Barsol police on November 8 and said they have visited the police station several times since. “Police threatened the barbers with legal action, but nothing has changed,” Mukhi said. Villagers said the police station in-charge called all the barbers on Sunday and warned them to follow the rules or face action. “Today all barber shops in the village are closed,” said Dalit resident Sagar Kalindi on Monday.
Police station in-charge Abhishek Kumar said he does not believe this is a case of social boycott. He said there was confusion about the newly charged rates and some villagers felt the higher fees were being used to avoid serving them. Mahadalit Samaj leader Vimal Baitha, who submitted a complaint to Barsol police, said this is clearly a case of social boycott and accused the police of downplaying the situation.
