Youth elopes with girl, her relatives thrash his father, brother in Vijayapura

 The father and brother of a youth from the Dalit community were tied to a tree and thrashed by the relatives of a Muslim girl, with whom he had eloped, at Halagundakanala village in the taluk on Sunday. The incident came to light on Wednesday.

Ningappa, the elder son of Mareppa Harijan, had eloped with a girl of the same village. The girl’s father, his brother and five others tied Mareppa to a tree and beat him black and blue, holding him responsible.

Ramesh, younger son of Mareppa, came to his father’s rescue. He too was tied to the other side of the tree and thrashed severely.

Mareppa has been admitted to the district hospital in Vijayapura as he sustained head injuries. Members of the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti held a protest in front of the mini Vidhana Soudha here against the incident.