2007年VOA标准英语-Indian Police Open Fire on Demonstrators in Raj

By Steve Herman
New Delhi
29 May 2007

A clash between police officers and villagers in rural northwestern India has resulted in the deaths at least 13 people Tuesday. VOA's Steve Herman reports from New Delhi that the protesters were demanding the right to be included as an underprivileged group.

Witnesses in Rajasthan say violence broke out between police and villagers after some 20,000 people blocked highways as part of a protest.

Government officials say police opened fire in self-defense after they were unable to disperse¹ the crowd and were surrounded by angry protesters.

Indian media say 500 army troops are being dispatched to the area in case of further violence.

The villagers were demanding official recognition by the government that they are on the lowest level of the country's social hierarchy².

Assistant Professor Suryakant Wadhmore at the Tata Institute of Social Science in Mumbai says a desire to be in the lowest social class may seem odd to outsiders, but has its benefits in India.

"India is the only country where people are fighting to be called 'backward,' because there are state provisions," Wadhmore says. "They are supposed to avail some benefits from the government of India provisions, which are in terms of reservations in terms of government jobs, access to education and, also, social security schemes."

The people killed by police Tuesday are known as Gujjars, historically regarded as rulers and a warrior³ clan⁴ of some of the highest castes. They represent less than ten percent of the population in Rajasthan, where they are are considered to be relatively⁵ well-off herdsmen.

1 disperse   

vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散

参考例句：

• The cattle were swinging their tails to disperse the flies.那些牛甩动着尾巴驱赶苍蝇。
• The children disperse for the holidays.孩子们放假了。

2 hierarchy   

n.等级制度；统治集团，领导层

参考例句：

• There is a rigid hierarchy of power in that country.那个国家有一套严密的权力等级制度。
• She's high up in the management hierarchy.她在管理阶层中地位很高。

3 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

4 clan   

n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派

参考例句：

• She ranks as my junior in the clan.她的辈分比我小。
• The Chinese Christians,therefore,practically excommunicate themselves from their own clan.所以，中国的基督徒简直是被逐出了自己的家族了。

5 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。