'Rebel' Dalits ostracised in Mandya

Beating drums for procession takes caste hue; FIR registered against 16

The reported demand for money to beat drums during the immersion procession of Ganesha idol is said to have triggered communal tension in the village. Local legislator Suresh Gowda hails from Kasuvinahalli. The eight Dalit families in the village have been banned from entering the village and refused drinking water.

According to the complaint lodged with the Nagamangala police, stones were thrown on the houses of Shivaraju, Mayanna and Seetharam who demanded money to beat drums.
Women who went to fetch water from a borewell were abused in foul language on October 6. The villagers who went to register a complaint were turned down saying that the legislator would address the issue, Mayanna said. Even the names of Dalit women have been dropped from the members’ list of Badagoodamma Stree Shakti Sangha of the village.

MLA intervenes

On October 9, legislator Suresh Gowda, in his attempt to bring about a compromise, held talks with the two sides. He counselled the villagers against ostracisation and suggested that such inhuman practices should not repeat in the village.

However, the very next day, Dalit women were abused by their caste name when they went to the milk dairy, following which a complaint was lodged in the Nagamangala police station on October 10. The police have registered cases against 16 persons under Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities)Act and Indian Penal Code. A manhunt has been launched to nab all the accused. A platoon of district armed reserve police has been deployed in the village.

Mandya Superintendent of Police Koushalendra Kumar visited the village on Tuesday and spoke to the affected Dalit families. Speaking to mediapersons, the SP said the case was being investigated by the deputy superintendent of police and the accused would be arrested soon.