JOIN US6 hurt in attack on Dalits in Shanubhoganahalli
Six persons were injured and several other arrested in a clash between Dalits and members of other communities at Shanubhoganahalli on Sunday night.
An allegation that Shankarappa, a Dalit, prevented flow of drainage, led to the clash.
In a follow up of the clash, members of Dalit organisations staged a protest outside the office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, demanding that the arrested, who have been held on charges of attack on Dalits, be handed over to judicial custody immediately.
The protesters also had an argument with DySP H P Rajanna and T R Jaishankar, the rural police station Circle Inspector.
Members of other communities in Shanubhoganahalli too staged a protest outside the office of the District Superintendent of Police on Monday, alleging that they were being wrongly accused repeatedly of attacking Dalits.
History
The fight of April 30 as well as May 11 and 12 goes back to an argument regarding blocking of drain and also parking vehicles outside a temple. Caste abuse cases were booked against several people on the occasions.
On Monday too, both the groups visited the police station to book cases against each other. The police, however, accepted the complaint of the Dalits, but refused the members of the other communities. They promised to look into the matter on Tuesday morning.
Attack
Later, while the Dalit group was travelling by bus on the Kolar-Manighatta route, members of other communities stopped the vehicle and attacked the Dalits.
Ratnamma, Chowdamma, Elappa, Lakshmamma, Sujathamma and Appu were injured and admitted to R L Jalappa Hospital.
Shivashankar, Manjunath, Mohan, Rajashekhar, Nanjunda Gowda, Chalapathi and others were held after Shankarappa's son Gautham complained.
Fury
Local Dalit leaders said police continue to ignore the clashes between Dalits and members of other communities and have not organised a pacifying meet. The tahsildar too has not looked into the matter of the drain blockade. If such circumstances continue, Dalits are forced to move out of Shanubhoganahalli, they added.
Vakkaleri Rajappa, Varadenahalli Venkatesh, Devaraj, Suresh, Ambarish, Babu, Appi and Sriram participated in the protest.
Members of the other communities too blamed the Dalits of creating unnecessary tension in the village.
Alleging that false complaints were booked against them, the members also demanded that legal action be taken against Dalit leader Shankarappa, his wife Ratnamma and
alliances.
Srinivas, Narayanaswamy, Shankarappa, Munireddy, Sriramegowda, Venkateshappa, Manjunath Reddy, Doddanna, Subramani and others participated in the protest.