Police told to respect Dalit who are victims of atrocities

Whenever Dalit victims approach the police stations to file a complaint against atrocities, they should be treated with respect, said Karnataka State Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Commission chairman A Muniyappa. He was chairing a review meeting in Chikkamagaluru on Wednesday.

During the meeting, the office-bearers of Dalit organisations submitted a plea to Muniyappa that the victims should be treated at police stations with respect and urged action against the wrongdoers.

Dalit leader Poornesh complained that no actions have been taken in several Dalit atrocity cases.

Another leader Vasanth Kumar accused that in an incident where Dalits were beaten during the auction of fish cultivation lakes, the accused are not arrested yet. Four Dalit families are not being allowed to go to their agricultural lands. But, the tahsildar has not initiated any action.

DySP Shaikh Hussain said that no lethargic attitude is followed in the cases pertaining to Dalit atrocities. Cases have been registered and the interrogations are being conducted on priority, he said.

A Muniyappa too, expressed his discomfiture on the rude behaviour of police personnel. He also lambasted the superintendent of police who did not attend to the meeting and said that he will bring the same to the notice of the chief minister and the home minister.

Muniyappa directed the officials to lay emphasis on the development of Hakki Pikki and other migrating communities. Steps should be taken to provide them with the sites. Power connection should be provided to the pump-sets of the beneficiaries under Ganga Kalyana scheme.

Priority should be given to the Dalit artistes while giving away various facilities to artists, he said.

He directed the officials to close the arrack shops near Dalit colonies. Land should be provided towards crematorium meant for the Dalit community. The KIADB does not have any power to acquire the Bagair Hukum cultivation lands from Dalits. If acquired, such lands should be returned to them.

Addressing reporters, Muniyappa said that flaws have been found in the implementation of SC/ST development programmes. Instructions have been given to the deputy commissioner to rectify the same.

The deputy commissioner said that the selection of the beneficiaries of various schemes will be done by October end.

Measures will be initiated towards providing sites to the 22 families of Dongri Gerasia community.

Deputy Commissioner M K Srirangaiah and ZP president B S Chaitrashree and Social Welfare department acting deputy director Manjunath were present among others.