Other States - Orissa   

Dalits demonstrate against Sangh Parivar activists

Photo: Lingaraj Panda

On warpath: Activists of ’Lok Sangram Manch’ taking out a rally in Berhampur on Tuesday. —

BERHAMPUR: Over 2000 dalits from nine blocks of Ganjam district demonstrated in the city on Tuesday in protest against alleged atrocity on them by the supporters of Sangh parivar.

They alleged that the dalit cattle traders of rural areas were being attacked and humiliated by the Sangh activists. Under the banner of the tribal organisation, Lok Sangram Manch, these dalits reached the city from Sorada, Dharakote, Sanakhemundi, Shergarh, Patrapur, Digapahandi, Kukudakhandi, Belaguntha and Jagannathprasad blocks by buses. They took out a rally that moved around the city and reached the office of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division to hand over a memorandum to him.

RDC Satyabrata Sahu met their representatives and promised strict action against the persons involved in atrocities against dalits. Ganjam district president of Lok Sangram Manch Raghunath Padhi alleged of inaction of police despite FIRs and complaints. He alleged that in some cases even FIRs were not being resgistered. Mr Sahu also promised to take up this matter with the police department. A delegation of dalits also met Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police R.P.Koche over the issue.

The dalits alleged that these attacks on cattle traders in rural had increased during past few months. During last two months three such cases were reported from Golanthara police station area. But the incident at Karaphandi village on Sept 25, united these dalit cattle traders. Four dalit cattle traders including Krushna Nayak and his son Sanjit Nayak from Dengapadar village were allegedly beaten up, disrobed and tonsured by activists of Sangh parivar. "We were humiliated and our money was robbed. Despite FIR police have not arrested the accused," said Krushna. Protesting against this incident, the dalit cattle traders have boycotted the weekly cattle haat at Hinjli since then.

In Ganjam district cattle trading is mostly done by dalits. Recently the members of sangh parivar have started to target these dalits with the allegation that they are involved in sending these cattle to slaughterhouses outside the state.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Their traditional profession loses glitter
Playing gods, goddesses to make a living
ECoR to operate one more special
Top institutes in defaulters’ list of holding tax
Probe sought into waiver of loans to IMFA
Dalits demonstrate against Sangh Parivar activists
19 arrested in a raid on gambling den
NFSM: State for inclusion of four more districts
BPUT fails to keep its promise: students
Quiet birthday for Naveen Patnaik
Accident victims mourned

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu