BANGALORE: The Congress has accused the Government headed by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy of failing to provide protection and justice to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people in the State.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president M. Mallikarjun Kharge, who attended a high-level meeting chaired by Mr. Kumaraswamy to review pending cases of atrocities against Dalits here on Tuesday, demanded the immediate suspension of the Superintendent of Police of Bidar district.

Inquiry called for

He said the officer had failed to control the violence that erupted in Bidar last week after some footwear was found on the fence around a statue of B.R. Ambedkar at Mannaekhalli in the district. He also demanded a Corps of Detectives inquiry into the incident.

Mr. Kharge said the State-level committee, which is reviewing the cases of atrocities on Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe people, should meet regularly and review the progress of the implementation of schemes meant for the welfare of Dalits. Funds sanctioned by the Centre for implementation of welfare schemes should be distributed among the districts based on the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe population, he said.

Mr. Kharge also urged the Government to challenge the trial court's acquittal of all the 46 accused in the carnage in Kambalapalli village of Kolar district.

The Government should challenge the verdict by filing an appeal in the Karnataka High Court.

The former Minister also demanded the setting up special courts in the districts for trial of atrocities against Dalits.

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