'Talapady GP encroached upon burial ground'

Dalit leader Girish Kumar alleged that the Talapady Gram Panchayat has encroached upon the land belonging to the burial ground to lay a road at Talapady SC Colony.

He was speaking at the SC/ST monthly grievances meeting organised by the City Police Commissioner on Sunday. "It was during the British rule that the authorities sanctioned 65 cents land for burial ground. There are 65 families residing in the colony, however, the Talapady GP has recently levelled the land using an earthmover," said Girish Kumar.

"The Zilla Panchayat had released Rs 6 lakh for the construction of a compound wall to the burial ground, five years ago. However, no action has been taken to construct the compound wall. The police and the district administration should intervene and maintain status quo of the burial ground," he requested.

Dr C B Vedamurthy, Directorate Civil Rights Enforcement SP, promised to inspect the spot immediately.

DCP Hanumantharaya said that the issue would be brought to the notice of the district administration as well.

Bank harassment

Dalit leaders also said that the banks harass unemployed youth from SC/ST communities while lending loans for self-employment. In spite of the Ambedkar Development Corporation and the Valmiki Development Corporation releasing financial assistance, the banks fail to sanction loans immediately.

Hanumantharaya promised to write to the lead bank manager about the problem.

The DCP also said that owing to work pressure, a few grievances aired by the Dalit leaders were pending for disposal. All the complaints would be cleared by January 15, he assured.