Kangaroo court ostracises family, young mother

Issue owing to political differences, family levied 1.75 lakh fine

A kangaroo court in Kalkunike village, Hunsur taluk, in the district, has ostracised Shilpa, her two-month-old baby, Narasimhaswamy K S and his family.

Although the social boycott against the Kuruba families is in effect since two months, according to victims, bringing the issue to the notice of the Superintendent of Police and Hunsur Tahsildar has not brought any relief.

According to Narasimhaswamy, political rivalry between him and one Shivaraj, a resident of Kalkunike village, has been the root of all problems.“During the election to the Town Municipal Council last year, I had supported the candidature of Lakshamma from our ward, while Shivaraj had fielded his wife Dhanalakshamma.

In a bid to win the election, Shivaraj spread rumours that I had an affair with Shilpa, wife of Shivanand, a resident of the same village,” he said. The issue aggravated with Shivanand lodging a complaint against Narasimhaswamy at the Hunsur police station.

Complaint

Following the complaint, Councillor Shivaraju, K C Narasaiah, Channappa and Dudda Hucchaiah, elders of the village, along with lawyer Chandrashekar intervened and promised to sort out the issue at the village panchayat. 

The kangaroo court imposed a fine of Rs 1.75 lakh on Narasimhaswamy’s family.  “Even after paying the fine amount, caste members have refused to lift the ban,” he said. He urged the District Administration to take steps to recover the fine amount. 

Meanwhile, Shivanand has demanded a divorce from Shilpa. Shilpa said, she and her baby have been disowned by both her parents and her in-laws, after Shivaraj started spreading the rumour of an illicit affair.

She alleged that Shivaraj has been harassing her repeatedly, and the police have refused to lodge a complaint against him, even after making several trips to the police station.

No action

Narasimhaswamy said, the police had promised action against the elders of the village and had communicated that the boycott has been lifted. However, the boycott is still in place, he said.

Hunsur Tahsildar Venkatappa said, the Taluk Administration could intervene only in case of boycott against Dalits by upper caste members. “The case is a personal dispute. All the allegations made by Narasimhaswamy and others is not true,” he said.