Mangaluru, Aug 3, 2015 : The Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe grievance redress meeting August 2, saw dalit leaders L. Shekar and S.P. Anand demanding persons like Gopala Gowda continue with assaulting people belonging to socially backward communities and the law had not come down hard on earlier instances of assaults.
Dalit factions asked the Dakshina Kannada police to strongly oppose the anticipatory bail application likely to be filed by Gopala Gowda, a 60-year-old resident of Neriya village. Gowda has been at large after reportedly after assaulting 48-year-old Sundara Malekudiya with a weed cutting machine on July 26, which literally severed Malekudiya’s left hand and also fingers of his right hand.
Shekar said so far around 90 complaints and petitions accusing Mr. Gowda of harassment have been filed. Anand said Malekudiya’s family members have been living in fear of attacks from Gopala Gowda’s family members.
The police should make good efforts to attach the property of Gowda and bring him to book for this vicious assault, Anand and Shekar asked the police to oppose attempts of Gowda to seek anticipatory bail.
Accusing the district administration of not caring much about Sundara Malekudiya, Dalit leader Ishwari said the assault victim was not getting the best medical treatment at the Government Wenlock Hospital. She accused the administration of ignoring assaults on victims like Malekudiya, while giving much attention to assaults on those from upper caste and minority communities.
Replying DK Superintendent of Police Sharanappa S.D. said Assistant Superintendent of Police (Bantwal Sub-Division) Rahul Kumar, the investigation officer in the assault case, has been entrusted with the task of tracking Gopala Gowda. He is on the run and is cleverly adopting means of criminal forms. SP Sharanappa, expressed confidence of arresting Gopala Gowda soon.