JOIN USDalits block road in protest against removal of name board
According to dalits it was the handiwork of people belonging to a particular caste in the village, who were against erecting the board on a piece of land, which actually belongs to the government. The board had been removed ahead of its unveiling, causing wide spread animosity among the two communities.
The agitators alleged that Raviraj, Janakamma and Devamma who questioned the people belonging to another caste, had to face their wrath. However, this led to a high drama fuelled by the arrest of Mahesh of neighbouring Kokkarehundi village in this regard.
The supporters of Mahesh from both the villages restrained the police from taking him away by squatting in front of the jeep. They accused dalits of levelling false allegations like that of atrocity and abusement, only to blow the issue out of proportion.
Moreover, the dalits had plans to claim ownership of the land and putting up the board was the beginning, they further alleged.
Mahesh who volunteered to pacify his supporters, convinced them saying he will abide by the law. It was only after this, police could take him away.
This was followed by the inauguration of Dr B R Ambedkar Youth Association, according to the schedule.
However, eerie silence prevails in both the villages with the ember of vengeance still burning in both the parties. As a precautionary measure, police have made elaborate security arrangements with three platoons of district armed reserve (DAR) police force and one of KSRP deployed at the spot, said SP Koushalendra Kumar.
MLA Ramesh Bandisiddegowda visited the spot and took stock of the situation.