'Long-drawn battles' end in truce

Family members of rape victim withdraw 927-day- old dharna

Mallikarjun Batgi and his family members were staging a dharna in the premises of regional commissioner’s office for the past 927 days demanding the arrest of the accused, who allegedly raped and murdered Batgi’s elder sister. The family was also demanding compensation.

 On the other hand, members of Akhil Bharatiya Safai Mazdoor Congress were staging a dharna in front of the deputy commissioner’s office for the past 778 days demanding housing facility and ownership of the quarters for pourakarmikas of Belgaum City Corporation. Kranti Sena members were staging satyagraha for the past 643 days demanding compensation for the farmers whose lands were submerged for Hidkal dam project.

Health Minister Sriramulu, who was in the City on Sunday held discussions with all the three. He had a meeting with Regional Commissioner C M Shirol, Deputy Commissioner J Ravishankar, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Ekroop Kaur, MLAs Abhay Patil and Sanjay Patil. He also spoke over phone with the chief minister and other ministers concerned.

The minister assured the protesters that their legitimate demands would be fulfiled as per the provisions of law and appealed them to withdraw the dharnas. All the three withdrew their protests following the assurance. Sheds erected by them were also demolished.

Sriramulu told reporters that housing facilities would be provided to pourakarmikas. Compensation to farmers who have lost their lands would be paid after receiving proposals from the district administration. Batgi family would be given 19 acres of land in Bagalkot. However its demand for government job cannot be met, he stated.
The decisions have been taken after taking all the concerned into confidence. “We don’t renege on our assurances,” Sriramulu said.