The Kodagu district police have formed a team to trace a plantation owner and his associate, who had allegedly let a dog loose on a daily wager, to recover dues from him.
The victim, Harish, who had discontinued working for Kishan, a plantation owner from Balale village in Kodagu, was allegedly tied to a shed in the estate last week while a dog was let loose on him to force him to clear debts, according to a complaint lodged with the Ponnampet police in Kodagu.
The dog pounced on the hapless Harish and bit him on his head and hands, causing severe injury. Though the incident took place a week ago, Harish lodged a complaint only after he underwent treatment for the bites. He had worked with Kishan for a year and half, had quit recently and taken up employment elsewhere. But, Kishan, accompanied by his associate Madhu, approached Harish last week and demanded that he return the ₹4,000 he owed him.
When Harish said he was not in a position to return the money, the duo forced him into their vehicle, brought him to the estate and tied him to a shed before letting the dog loose on him. “Kishan has three dogs. One was let loose on Harish,” said a senior police officer.
Superintendent of Kodagu district police Rajendra Prasad said they had registered a case under Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and are looking for the accused.
Meanwhile, the Bhoomi Mattu Vasati Hakku Vanchitara Horata Samithi has threatened to agitate if the police fails to arrest the accused. In a statement, the Samithi representatives claimed that bonded labour exists in Kodagu even though elected representatives deny the same under pressure from plantation owners.
Meanwhile, the International Justice Mission has also condemned the incident.