Andhra Pradesh - Cuddapah   

Attack on VSS chief: Dalits stage dharna

By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDAPAH, FEB. 15. Members of several Dalit associations staged a dharna in front of Vontimitta police station on Tuesday under the aegis of Ambedkar Mission, demanding arrest of the upper caste persons accused in attack on a Dalit.

The general secretary of Ambedkar Mission, A. Sampath Kumar, said the Cherlopalle Vana Samrakshana Samithi president, Rajagopal, an SC, was assaulted by persons belonging to upper castes in Nadimpalle village on January 26.

The Vontimitta police had booked a case but failed to arrest the accused, he alleged.

He charged the Rajampet DSP, Balakrishna Reddy, with pressuring complainants to compromise with the accused.

Police blamed

Mr. Sampath Kumar criticised the police for immediately booking cases against Dalits who were `used as pawns' by upper caste people to attack their rivals.

The police inaction in cases of atrocities against Dalits was rampant, he said. Accusing the police of booking cases on the diktats of the Rajampet MLA, K. Prabhavathamma, he alleged that false SC/ST cases were aplenty, as upper caste politicians misused the Act.

The anti-Dalit attitude of the Rajampet DSP had led to increased attacks on Dalits, Mr. Sampath Kumar alleged.

He sought investigation into the attack on the VSS president by another DSP and booking of a case under Section 4 of S/ST Act, against the Rajampet DSP, for criminal negligence in investigating the case.

An MRPS leader, Obulapathi, accused DSP of acting at the behest of political leaders. The Mala Mahanadu leader, Yelia Babu, accused officials of not respecting the law.

The Dalita Sena president, Y. Pagidaialah and the Dalit leaders -- Swaminatham, Jayaraju, Nageswara Rao, Chinnappa, Sanjeevarayudu and Jayanna -- spoke.

They submitted a memorandum to the Vontimitta SI, Sivanna, warning him of an intensive stir if the accused were not arrested.

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