BHUBANESWAR: For 35-year-old Sunanda Nayak of Chanagiri village under Khurda district, the annual Holi celebration brings more worry than happiness. As a person from lower caste, he is `called to beat drum to build up mood' for higher caste villagers to dance in the street.

But Mr. Nayak defied the age-old diktat this year. The revolt made higher caste villagers see red and he along with several others from his caste were allegedly attacked on the day of Holi. Two days after the Holi, four persons were brought to Capital Hospital in the city for treatment.

A group of villagers from his community also met superintendent of police Amitabh Thakur and requested him for security as they were apprehending further humiliation at the hands of higher caste people.

Case registered

A case in this connection had been registered in Jankia police station under Khurda district. The other injured include Narendra Nayak, Indu Nayak and Kuma Nayak.

"Though who attacked Mr. Nayak and others are absconding, the victims should be provided security to prevent further attack. The police administration should deploy police in the village till tension in the area reduced," general secretary of Ambedkar-Lohia Vichar Manch (ALVM) Rabi Behera demanded. The ALVM activist also joined them in approaching the police.

"The upper caster people of our village had asked our community to arrange 31 drums for Holi celebration. But when we replied in negative saying we did not have enough hands and instruments, they got together and attacked us," Mr. Nayak said in choked voice. He alleged that enraged over their refusal a group villagers had attacked them.

Suryakanta Patra, another villager who accompanied the injured to the Capital Hospital, said the simmering caste conflict had been continuing since 2005.

"Earlier we submitted a written complaint to Jankia Police station that the upper caste people did not allow us to take food in hotels or get our hair cut in saloons. We were not even allowed to enter our village temples," Mr. Patra alleged. "But there has not been any improvement so far."

He further alleged that during Holi celebration the upper caste people used to restrict us from throwing colours on idols. Worst still, the village cremation ground was prohibited for the lower caste people, Mr. Patra alleged.

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