Dalits voice grievances at monthly meeting

Dalits voice grievances at monthly meeting

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, June 24, 2012: Girish Kumar, a Dalit leader, complained that the police are least bothered about protecting Dalits although they complained that a group of youngsters were planning to kill some of the residents of a Dalit colony in Chommugudde in Ullal. He was speaking at the monthly SC/ST grievance meeting held in the office of the police commissioner on Sunday. 

Further speaking about the issue, he said that the residents of the Dalit colony suspect that this group is making plans to kill some of the residents because they found 3 swords in the colony.

The residents had lodged a complaint with the local police that they had observed the group loitering in the streets after 10:00 p.m. and that one of them has even been booked in a Dalit atrocity case. He added that, in spite of all these complaints, the police have done nothing to bring these youngsters under control. 

In response, ACP T. R. Jagannath said that the police have already conducted an enquiry and are closely watching the group. He added that Ullal and its surrounding regions are being closely watched, owing to which no case of violence has been reported recently. He said that police teams are continuously patrolling the area, adding that the police have beefed up security especially in Chommugudde, which is noted for violence. 

Another Dalit leader sought clarification regarding amendment of rules on land belonging to the SC/ST communities. According to a recent order, around 11.5 acres of land belonging to SC/ST communities in Sunkadakatte in Derebail is saleable, but the order has created confusion as Dalits feel that it is in favor of builders who want to occupy Dalit property to raise apartments. 

A complaint was also voiced that the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy had used the word “Dhikka” in one of their cultural shows and that this show was shown live on local TV channels. The complainant said that action must be taken against the academy for using a word that is insulting to Dalits. 

Just before the meeting, a guard of honor was given to Radhakrishna, head constable of City Armed Reserve Police, who breathed his last yesterday at the age of 56 in AJ Hospital.