Noted' Dalits object to issuance of notices to them under Section 107

Speaking about the same, during the monthly SC/ST grievance meet chaired by Manish Karbikar, Mangalore Police Commissioner, at his office on Sunday, Dalit representative Ashok Konchady said that he along with several others have been issued this notice by the Kavoor police under the said section of the IPC, asking them for an assurance that they will not indulge in any untoward incident.

The notice to Mr. Konchady has been sent on the basis of a dispute over a road between a committee that he is part of and CPI(M) leader Sunil Kumar Bajal and a few untoward incidents which have taken place in connection with the case. Mr. Konchadi however took objection to names of women in his family also being included in the 'noted' list.

“Women of our household have got nothing to do with the dispute. Now that they have received police notice, people in the family and others in our society are looking down upon our women. They are being treated as criminals”, Mr. Konchady said.

Although the Commissioner clarified that the action taken by the police under Section 107 is only a preventive measure and not a case, Mr. Konchady said that Dalits like him who belong to the labour class earning their bread through coolie work do not have the time and money to respond to such notices in the form of a written assurance before the Tahshildar, spending Rs 5,000 on a bond.

“In case any untoward incident takes place after the written assurance is produced before the Tahshildar, we will be put behind bars”, Mr. Konchady later told media persons.

'Book atrocity case on liquor suppliers in Dalit colonies'

Senior Dalit leader P Keshava appealed to the Commissioner to book atrocity cases against politicians and activists of political parties in case of  liquor distribution in Dalit colonies to lure votes is found.

“There was a time when our people would succumb to the lure of money and liquor. But now Dalits are educated. We possess enough intellect to decide as to who is the candidate that we should vote for. It is our request that atrocity cases be booked against those who distribute liquor in Dalit colonies, trying to buy our votes”, Mr. Keshava said.

Commissioner's absence questioned

A Dalit representative on the occasion drew the attention of the gathering on Mr. Kharbikar's absence during last few SC/ST meetings.

Stating that he had skipped just two meetings as he was out of station, Mr. Kharbikar attempted to brush the topic aside and proceeded further with the meeting.

Speaking to media persons later, the Dalit representative said that Mr. Kharbikar's presence in SC/ST meetings is essential as other officers do not address their problems adequately. Mr. Kharbikar has skipped more than five meetings in the past, he said.