Mangalore, May 13: A police officer himself threatened a Dalit girl for filing a complaint against Bajrang Dal activists over an incident, members of the Dalit community alleged at the monthly SC/ST grievance meet chaired by Abhishek Goyal, Superintendent of Police, Dakshina Kannada district, on Sunday.
Raising the issue of a Dalit girl Manjusha of Renjilaadi, Kadaba, who was tortured by Bajrang Dal activists over an incident, members of the Dalit community brought to the notice of the SP the pro-saffron attitude of Rukmaya Gowda, ASI, Kadaba and demanded that action be taken against him. The SP asked for a written complaint against the official concerned.
The Incident
On April 26, Ms. Manjusha set off from Kadaba town to see her ailing relative in Guttikar, Subramanya, along with her work place acquaintance Tajuddin, in his car. The duo was followed by Bajrang Dal activists who blocked them and assaulted Mr. Tajuddin. Ms. Manjusha had meanwhile managed to escape and took an auto rickshaw. The saffron activists followed her and pushed her out of the rickshaw. “They threatened her and forced her to file a police complaint against Mr. Tajuddin stating that he had tried to rape her. But the very next day I asked her to tell the truth to the police and filed another complaint in Kadaba against Bajrang Dal activists for threatening her and misbehaving with her. Following this complaint three of them were arrested. Mr. Tajuddin on the other hand was arrested by the police initially but then released on bail”, said Guruappa Kallugudde, DSS leader.
“They (Bajrang Dal activists) dragged me out of the auto rickshaw. My leg is still paining” said Ms. Manjusha who was present at the meet. They made her sit in an Innova car and threatened her to file a police complaint against Mr. Tajuddin. Two men sat on her either sides and held her hands tightly so that she could not escape while they threatened her, Dalits in the meet added.
However, members of the Dalit community present in the meet alleged that ASI Rukmaya Gowda had visited Ms. Manjusha's house on April 28 and spoken to her using foul language. He also spoke to her rudely about filing a complaint against the saffron activists, they said. The SP asked for a written complaint and assured that apt action would be taken against the officer concerned.
Sangh Parivar activists are instigating Dalit youth against their own leaders, Mr. Kallugudde said. DSS leader Keshava requested the SP to provide security for Dalit leaders.
Cases of encroachment of land belonging to Dalits, school going Dalit girls being harassed by saffron activists, drinking water woes in Dalit colonies etc were also discussed in the meeting.
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