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Dalits `attacked' for taking part in drive against untouchability

Ravi Reddy

CPI (M) leader Raghavulu's cycle yatra enters 10th day

ENTERS AT LAST: A dalit farm labourer offering prayers at Anjaneya Swamy temple in Proddaturu village of Ranga Reddy district during the cycle yatra by CPI (M) secretary B.V. Raghavulu (right) on Tuesday.

PRODDATURU (Ranga Reddy dt): Five dalits, including four women, were allegedly attacked by caste Hindus in Barawad in Bantaram mandal, even as the Samajika Chaitanya cycle yatra launched by CPI (M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu against untouchability entered the 10th day on Tuesday.

The attack is said to be a sequel to the dalits entering a local temple along with Mr. Raghavulu and members of the Kulavivaksha Vyatireka Porata Samiti (struggle committee against caste discrimination). Dalits participated in a campaign against the two-glass system and drew water from a community well. The upper caste people, led by a retired headmaster, allegedly took offence to the dalit's defiance.

Case registered

A group of 25 caste Hindus reportedly assaulted B. Durgamma, Laxmi, Yellamma, Sangamma and Narasimha for drawing water from the well. The victims and other dalits have been warned not to repeat their act. Vikarabad DSP Saikrushna has told The Hindu that a case has been registered against those reportedly involved in the incident.

Similar incidents have been reported in the last few days. Dalits of Tirmalapur village were denied water from the local tank for irrigation purpose. At Inapur village in Doma mandal, a dalit was beaten up after he opposed the two-glass system in a local hotel. In Pagidala of Yalal mandal, the upper caste people washed local temple after dalits entered it.

Notwithstanding stray incidents, Mr. Raghavulu's cycle yatra passed through Gajulguda, Dhobipet, Fatehpur, Shankarpally mandal headquarters, Mokili and Proddaturu. In this village in Shankerpally mandal, 45 km from Hyderabad, 45-year-old Anthaiah entered Anjaneya Swamy temple for the first time in his life and offered prayers along with KVPS activists and CPI (M) leaders.

Addressing roadside gatherings, Mr. Raghavulu decried the prevalence of the two-glass system, ban on entering temples and drawing water from public wells.

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