The Hindu : Karnataka / Hassan News : Dalit samiti protests against sale of illicit arrack

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 06, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Hassan

Dalit samiti protests against sale of illicit arrack

By Our Staff Correspondent

HASSAN, OCT. 5. Activists of the Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (Ambedkar) (KDSS), led by renowned artist, K.T. Shivaprasad, took out a rally from Hemavathi Statue to the Deputy Commissioner's office today to protest against the death of five Dalits in K. Mallasandra village of Hoskote taluk in Bangalore rural district.

The KDSS held a demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office and urged the Government to ban the sale of arrack. The activists also exhorted the Government to arrest the excise contractor who was "responsible" for the death of the Dalits. They also sought action against those who were selling arrack in grocery shops.

Compensation

The KDSS members urged the Government to sanction compensation to the next of kin of those who died by consuming illicit arrack. The convenor of the State unit of the KDSS, Mavalli Shankar, the district convener, Mallesh Ambuga, and Eeresh Hirehalli participated in the rally. Addressing the activists, K.T. Shivaprasad criticised the Government for issuing licenses to producers of illicit liquor and sought action against those responsible for the death of the Dalits in K. Mallenahalli.

Shivaprasad said that the KDSS would send the sachets of illicit liquor to the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, and the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, as a mark of protest.

He alleged that the coalition Government had scant respect for the life of Dalits and was interested in capturing power.

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