JOIN USAddressing the SC/ST grievance meet at Maithri Police Samudaya Bhavana in Madikeri on Thursday he said that there have been complaints on how the Act has been misused by the elite classes to avenge their personal vengence on somebody. “An enquiry will be held in this regard by DySP. Cases will be registered only after the complaints are proved,” he said.
He said that as many as 30 atrocity cases were booked in Kodagu district during 2009 and in 2010 7 cases have been registered already.
Dalit Sangharsha Samiti Convener T N Govindappa said that some coffee planters have employed dalits as workers in their house and plantation paying them wage of Rs 30 to 50 per day. “The dalits who have borrowed money from these growers are living like bonded labourers,” he said.
Kodagu District Budakattu Krishikara Sangha President J P Raju said that conversion of daits is going on in large scale in Kushalnagar. “An individual has the right to go to any religion on his own wish but compelling him to embrace a particular faith is crime,” he said and demanded inquiry into the same.
Haradur Gram Panchayat Vice-President Devappa said that when a dalit comes to the court to give witness on the atrocity case, his day’s wage is lost. Further since he has to shell out money from his own pocket to go to the court, many dalits stay away from courts.
Responding to this Annigeri said that hence forth Government will bear the day’s expenses of the person who comes to give witness to court under atrocity case.
Hoddur Dalit Leader H K Monappa said that police officials behave rudely with the dalits who come to the stations to lodge complaints. He alleged the police of taking side of the rich and strongest. SP promised action in case specific cases are brought to his attention.
Dalit Leaders H S Muthappa, ZP former member R K Chandru, Diwakar and others were present.
DH News Service