4 Dalit families beaten up, face social boycott: Forum

Hubballi: Hubballi-Dharwad Vividha Dalita Sangha Samsthegala Mahamandala alleged that four families belonging to scheduled caste communities are facing social boycott from upper caste members at Vittalapur village in Kundgol taluk of Dharwad district from the last 11 days.
Mahamandala president Gurunath Ullikashi said members of the families who belong to Madiga community, were assaulted, abused and their houses were damaged by upper caste people on February 26 after the victims opposed the placing of ‘Sadagi’ (funeral pyre) at a place of worship that belongs to the SC community.

“Though the victims have identified the 15 persons who assaulted them, so far no action has been taken against them as the main accused Virupakshappa Kallimani is a gram panchayat member and works for a political party,” he said.

Police inaction

“For seven days, police did not even bother to file a complaint and instead had warned the victims. Every day the accused were roaming in the village asking the residents not to give even drinking water to the victims. It was only after eight days of the attack that the police filed the case, he said.

Laxmavva Hanamantappa Harijan, one of the victims, said that the perpetrators did not even spare the children and assaulted them. As a proof, the family also released photos of them being attacked and the pyre being placed at their place of worship.

Ullikashi blamed police and the district administration for their inaction. “In spite of minister C S Shivalli and MLA Prasad Abbayya instructing police to take action against the accused, none of the 15 members have been arrested,” he said.

“If police do not act against the accused and the district administration does not provide the victims basic facilities within the next 48 hours, Dalits will be forced to intensify their protest against untouchability and atrocities on suppressed communities,” he said.