Assault on Dalit girls in Belthangady : Leaders demand action against culprits

Assault on Dalit girls in Belthangady : Leaders demand action against culprits

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Aug 5, 2013 : The SC ST Grievance redressal meeting held at the SP office in Mangalore on August 4, Sunday witnessed heated debate on the recent brutal assault on two young Dalit sisters at Guruvayanakere allegedly by Bhajrangdal activists. It was earlier reported that the girls were attacked for dressing ‘indecently.’

Dalit leaders who participated in the meeting wanted to know why no action was taken against the attackers.

 

 

 

 

Honnappa,  a Dalit leader, said the two girls, one a minor and another married, were approached by the men belonging to Bhajrangdal while the former were waiting for the bus on July 17 and then assaulted for reportedly dressing indecently and exposing. He said the girls were handed over to the Belthangady police and that they were once again ill-treated at the station and even accused of being prostitutes.

 He also demanded that the assailants must be booked under Prevention  of Children from Sexual Offences Act as one of the victims was a minor.

P Keshava, a leader of Dalit Sangharsha Samithi described  the incident as a case of moral policing. However, L Shekhar, President of Dalita Hakkugala Horata Samithi invited the ire of many by stating  that the girls had dressed obscenely and said they ought to dress respectably.

SP Abhishek Goel said three separate complaints have been lodged by the victims, a Dalit organization of Belthangady and another Dalit body in Mangalore. He said a thorough probe would be done  by the Additional SP who would submit a report within a week.

 Vittal Malekudiya who was also present at the meeting,   referring to the plans to induct 21 members of Malekudiya  tribe living in Naxal hit areas as home  Guards,said the training should be funded  from the Rs 5 crore grant for Naxal hit areas. He said  Malekudiyas need to be trained and inducted into other departments.He also was critical of the  Tiger Project proposed in Kudremukh National Park area.

The SP said the Malekudiyas who were interested in joining Home Guards were recruited and there was no compulsion.

TP Shivakumar, Additional SP was also present among others.