Karnataka   

Dalit boy attacked in Devanur

MYSORE: An incident of “caste” Hindus attacking a Dalit boy on Sunday has been reported from Devanur village of Nanjangud taluk in Mysore district. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Venkataswamy, the reason behind the incident is that a Dalit boy was caught teasing a girl belonging to the “upper caste”. Mr. Venkataswamy told The Hindu that the situation was under control and enough security had been provided to the Dalit colony.

According to Mr. Venkataswamy, a girl from Dasanur village of Nanjangud taluk came to Devanur Centre to attend the SSLC examination on Saturday. A few Dalit youth allegedly teased her on her way to Devanur. When the girl reported the incident to her parents, a group of “caste” Hindu youth, armed with lethal weapons, entered the new colony of Dalits in Devanur and attacked Mahadevaswamy (20). His house was also damaged in the incident. After attacking the boy, the “upper caste” youth sped from the scene. Later, Mahadevaswamy was brought to Nanjangud hospital in a police jeep. He is reportedly recovering there.

Madayya, a local Dalit leader, said that the dispute between the “upper castes” and the Dalits, over celebrating the village festival in February, was the reason behind the incident.

While the Dalits were on a procession to Mariyamma temple, which is in an “upper caste” colony, some people from the “upper castes” stopped them. However, the situation was brought under control with police intervention. But, the flames of discontent has begun then, he added.

Additional Superintendent of Police H. Ramesh rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. A peace committee meeting was held later. The Dalit Sangarsha Samithi (DSS) has taken the incident seriously. Convener, district unit of DSS, Alagodu Shivakumar said that the incidents of attack on the Dalits were increasing in the region because of the apathy of the police.

The Dalit leader of Mandya district, Guruprasad Keragodu, condemned the attack on the Dalits in Jakkanahalli village near Pandavapura on Monday, and held the district police responsible for repeated attack on the Dalits.

He said that despite repeated incidents of the “upper caste” attacking the Dalits in the district, police have not taken action against the culprits and that had given a free hand for the “caste” Hindus to repeat the incident, he alleged. Mr. Prasad said that the district committee would meet tomorrow and a fact finding team would visit Jakkanahalli and chalk out the future of course of action.

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Dalit boy attacked in Devanur

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