Members of the Citizens’ Rights Forum stage a protest outside the police station on Thursday, demanding action under Goonda Act against men who attacked a doctor at a private nursing home in the town recently.
Former minister K M Krishna Reddy led the procession on the streets starting from HN Circle. The protesters demanded arrest of the attackers who violated human rights.
Gathering in front of the police station, they shouting slogans slogans against even the police for not taking any action till now.
Misuse of act
Reddy condemned the act of the Dalita Sangharsha Samiti members, who physically and verbally abused a doctor at a private nursing home that provided medical care at low cost. In addition, a false case has been booked against the doctor using caste as a pretext.
“The Dalit community, which faces a lot of exploitation through hunger, poverty and even untouchability, was insulted. The police should use the taken legal action against people who misuse the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,” he added.
The Forum leader Channarayappa said some Dalit leaders and activists organised programmes and meetings as a platform to blackmail taluk officers and get money from them. “The government has provided several facilities to Dalits, which are often misused to gain crores of rupees.”
Channarayappa reminded that staff of the Engineering and the Horticulture departments were attacked two months ago. “The attackers on the doctor should be arrested under the Goonda Act,” he insisted.
Assurance
Deputy Superintendent of Police M S Khakandaki arrived at the spot and listened to the protesters. Reddy demanded repeal of the caste-based accusations against the doctor and investigation of the attack.
The DySP said the matter was being investigated under the leadership of the District Superintendent of Police Dr T D Pawar.
He also assured the protesters that legal action would be taken against the guilty, after which the protesters withdrew from the police station.
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