Dalit leaders demand compensation for victims of landslide at Thottilaguri

Dalit leaders have urged the authorities to consider Bajpe landslide incident resulting the death of four persons as an atrocity against Dalits. Explaining the ground reality at SC/ST monthly grievances meeting here on Sunday, Dalit leader Ashok accused builders mafia of trying to evict Dalits at Thottilaguri.

Builders have encroached land belonging to dalits. Poor dalits were residing in the area for the past several decades. Though the issue was raised in taluk panchayat and zilla panchayat meetings, no action was initiated against builders.  He urged the district administration to pay compensation of Rs four lakh to the kin of the deceased in the mishap.

Reacting to it, Deputy Commissioner of Police Mutturaya said that complaints have been registered against builders and he promised of taking stringent action against the culprits, if the allegations are proved.

A domestic help alleged that her employer had kept her away from her daughter for five years, and may have sold the child to a person in Saudi Arabia.

Raising the issue, Shwetha said that after she had a child out of wedlock five years ago, her employer in Kottara Cross, forced her to send the child away to an ashram.

“My employer told me that I could not manage the child along with my work. However, she has been evading my questions about the child and did not allow me to meet my daughter. As I left the job, she told me that she had sold the child to a person in Saudi Arabia.” A complaint was filed on June 28.“However, my employer has filed a case against me in Urva Police station accusing me of stealing foreign liquor,” she said. 

The Deputy Commissioner of Police  promised to take action. Meanwhile, a computer assistant for the Karnataka Home Guard in Surathkal accused her senior of mental and sexual harassment. “When my senior had asked me to come to his office for half an hour on Sunday, I had refused it. As a result, I have been demoted to the post of a guard,” she alleged.

Mutthuraya asked her to send a written complaint to the police and the Home Guards.
A Dalit leader said that physically challenged and senior citizens are not given the seats that are reserved for them in buses. As private buses are parked on either side of the road leading to service bus stand, pedestrians find it difficult to walk. To which, the police directed them to bring the matter to the notice of the Regional Transport Officer.