Taking a stern view of the boycott of Dalits who sought Rs.50 hike in farm wages in Sangrur's Dhandiwal village, the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission (PSSCC) on Friday took suo-motu congnigance on the issue. The Commission has asked the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Sangrur to appear in person on 8 August.

Disclosing this on Friday, the PSSCC Chairman Rajesh Bagha said that it had come to the notice of the Commission that some landlords have boycotted the Dalit families and announced Rs.5,000 fine for anybody provide work or having social links with them.

Bagha further said that taking suo-motu notice of the matter, the Commission has decided on a probe and keeping with that the Deputy Commissioner Sangrur and SSP Sangrur have been summoned.

As the landless Dalit families of Dhandiwal village have been facing boycott by upper caste farmers for the past 15 days for demanding higher wages, they have gone short of fodder for their cattle as the farmers are not allowing them to enter their fields.

As per the reports, landless Dalit families of Dhandiwal village of the Sangrur district have been facing boycott by upper caste farmers for the past 15 days for demanding higher wages. As a result, Dalits have gone short of fodder for their cattle as the farmers are not allowing them to enter their fields. As per information, a calf died on Thursday due to hunger and there was no fodder in the feeder at a Dalit's home for the livestock.

Citing the rising prices, the Dalits had demanded an increase in their daily wages to Rs 300 from Rs 250 (for men) and Rs 220 (for women). However, the farmers refused to accept their demands and decided to boycott them.

After two days of the boycott, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Dhuri, called parties and decided that the labourers will get Rs 303 without food and Rs 273 with food, but farmers were not ready to accept the decision. They have rejected Dalit labourers demands for a one-time meal, along with Rs 300.

Meanwhile, the Panchayat and Rural Development minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, during an event on Friday said he was aware of the issue and will look into it.