Jaisalmer: Manganiyar families flee village in fear

Around 20 Manganiyar families in Jaisalmer have been forced to leave their village after receiving threat followed by the killing of a family member who was also a folk singer. 

Now, nearly 80-100 members of these families from Dantal village of the district are living in Jaisalmer district headquarter at Rain Basera (shelter) run by Nagar Palika while some other families are living at their relatives’ house in Balad village. The deceased, Aamad Khan, was a Manganiyar singer who used to sing Bhajans in temples. He was found dead in the village. After four days of his death, Khan’s relatives filed an FIR at Falsund police station alleging that on September 27, one Ramesh Suthar, who used to practice as deity comes in him, asked Aamad to sing a particular Raaga. 

Failing which Ramesh with his two brothers picked Khan when he was on his way back home and beat him up. It is said in FIR that due to injuries Aamad Khan received during beating caused him to death. The police of Phulsund Thana arrested the main accused Ramesh and but two other accused are still out of clutches. 

Meanwhile, around 20 families of Manganiyars reached Jaisalmer district headquarters. Chhuge Khan, brother of deceased said that some people threatened to kill their family members as they dared to register FIR. “Proper police guard have been deployed at Dantal as well as Balad villages for their protection but despite of assurance these people are not going back.” Gaurav Yadav, District SP, Jaisalmer said.