SC/ST meet opposes bail plea by Gopala Gowda, demand that police act

Mangalore Today News Network

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.