Karnataka - Mysore   

Peace committee formed in K. Shettahalli

Staff Correspondent

`It will help bridge gap between Dalits and upper caste people in the village'

MYSORE: A team headed by Inspector General of Police (Southern Range) R.P. Sharma visited trouble-torn K. Shettahalli village in Mandya district, where caste Hindus allegedly attacked Dalits on April 13, and formed a 10-member peace committee, with local tahsildar and circle inspector of police as its official members.

As many as 20 Dalits were injured in the incident.

Dispute

The police had attributed the simmering dispute over the rights to lift sand from the Lokapavani River and the dispute between the Dalits and people belonging to the dominant Vokkaliga community over bathing in the river for the clash.

However, refuting the police contention, the Dalits attributed the cascading effect of pent up fury against them for the incident.

It was also alleged that the Dalits were tormented by the police after the incident.

Protesting against the incident, the Dalits had blocked Bangalore-Mysore road on that day and the Dalit leaders had gheraoed the district in-charge Minister N. Cheluvaraya Swamy.

Fact-finding team

A fact-finding team, consisting of Nagaragere Ramesh, Nagari Babaiah, Srikanth, Maruthi and Rangaswamy of the People's Democratic Forum (PDF), demanded for a judicial probe into the incident after visiting the village.

As a result of mounting pressure, a team consisting of Mr. Sharma, Superintendent of Police B.S. Prakash and MLA Vijayalakshmi Bandisidde Gowda visited the village and formed a peace committee to "bridge the gap between the Dalits and the upper caste people".

Mr. Sharma told The Hindu that, though situation in the village was completely under control, the police force would be withdrawn in a phased manner.

`Resolved'

"Issues are resolved to a larger extent and the peace committee will meet regularly to solve any differences in the village. Mr. Prakash will attend a few initial meetings," he said. Most of the contentious issues had been settled in the Friday's meeting amicably, he added.

The police wanted the committee to maintain peace with the least intervention of Government machinery, he added.

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