Karnataka - Bijapur   

Protest by Dalit family enters third day

Staff Correspondent

They are seeking justice in a case of alleged assault

BIJAPUR: The indefinite dharna launched by Scheduled Tribe (ST) member Mallikarjun Hichappa Batgi and his family members of the "Beda" community seeking justice in a case of alleged atrocities against them entered the third day on Tuesday.

Besides Mr. Batgi, his aged mother Lakshmibai and wife Shantabai have been agitating along with his two kids in front of the entrance to the Deputy Commissioner's office. The Batgis are from the Sarwad village near here and have been seeking the arrest of the accused in the case of an alleged assault on them. They are also seeking disciplinary action against the police officers who had allegedly sided with accused by failing to take any action in the matter.

Pledged support

The leaders of a few non-governmental organisations called on the agitating family on Tuesday and pledged support to their demonstration. However, no Government official visited the spot.

Mr. Batgi and family, who were not allowed to set up a shamiana on Tuesday as well, had to stand in the scorching sun. Referring to the members of the Bijapur Drinking Water Action Committee, who were staging an indefinite dharna only a few yards away on the water crisis in Bijapur, Mr. Batgi said that while the committee members had been allowed to put up a shamiana so that they could stage their agitation, his family was not. He added, however, that they were determined to fight relentlessly for justice.

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