Assault on Dalit sisters: Dalit leaders demand strict action against attackers

[email protected] (CD Network)
August 4, 2013
Mangalore, Aug 4: The brutal assault on two Dalit girls by saffron activists for 'indecent exposure' in Belthangady, dominated the monthly SC/ST grievance meet chaired by Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Goyal at his office on Sunday.

Raising the issue of two Dalit sisters who were brutally assaulted and beaten up in public view by alleged Bajrang Dal activists last month in Guruvayankere in Belthangady taluk, several leaders of the Dalit community demanded to know why action was not taken against the attackers for beating up the girls.

Dalit leader Honnappa said that the Dalit sisters Asha and Roshni (names changed) were approached by men belonging to Bajrang Dal while they were waiting at a bus stop in Guruvayankere on July 17, and assaulted in full public view for wearing indecent clothes and exposing themselves. Moreover, they were handed over to a constable from Belthangady police station who took them to the police station and further berated and branded as prostitutes, he said.

“Is there any rule regulating dress code for women?” he asked, demanding that the attackers be arrested and a case of atrocities should be registered against them. As one of the girls is a minor, the attackers could also be booked under Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he suggested.

Another leader P Keshava from Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS) said that the assault was a clear case of moral policing, wherein the attackers took the law in their own hands. It should not exist, he said.

Meanwhile, president of Dalita Hakkugala Horata Samiti L Shekhar said that the girls were dressed in an “obscene” way in public, and they ought to be dressed more respectably. He suggested that the police department ought to counsel the girls in public interest, claiming that the girls were “not of good character”.

His statements were met with backlashes from several others. While one of the girls is a minor, the other one is said to be married.

In reply to the issue, SP Goyal said that three separate complaints had been received by the police, one by the victims, another from a Dalit organisation in Mangalore demanding action against the attackers, and yet another from a Dalit organisation in Belthangady urging the police not to file a complaint by the victims.

A detailed enquiry will be made and a report will be submitted by the Additional SP in a week, following which subsequent action will be taken against the accused, he said.

Malekudiyas in Home Guard department

Vittal Malekudiya, a member of the Malekudiya tribe, said that the plan to induct 21 members of the tribe living in Naxal-affected areas as home guards, should not be highlighted as employment. It is a self-service rendered by Malekudiyas, and should not be funded from the Rs 5 crore grants announced for Naxal-hit areas. Malekudiyas can also be trained and inducted in other departments as well, he pointed.

Opposing the proposed Tiger Project of the Kudremukh National Park, he said that if implemented, families of Malekudiyas would be forced to the streets, urging that the project should be scrapped.

Clarifying on this issue, Mr Goyal said that the induction of Malekudiyas from naxal-hit areas as home guards was entirely a voluntary service, and there was no compulsion by the department. Funds from the Rs 5 crore grant have been allotted to employment creation, and this can be utilised in that manner, he said.

Additional Superintendent of Police T P Shivakumar was present during the meet.

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News Network
October 4,2024

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Mysuru: Chairman of JD(S) core committee and Chamundeshwari constituency MLA G T Devegowda on Thursday expressed his solidarity with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying the latter need not resign, while lambasting leaders of his own party and alliance partner BJP, including Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

In his speech during Mysuru Dasara inauguration he said that if persons against whom FIR is registered have to resign, many leaders from all the three parties, including Opposition Leader R Ashoka, will have to resign.

“All are sitting in glass houses... Since I know Siddaramaiah well, I am talking about him. At a time when mines and real estate are ruling politics, Siddaramaiah has survived in politics. He has never done any favour,” Devegowda said.

He added, “Allegations against Siddaramaiah are unexpected and accidental. If the Governor and Chief Justice order an investigation, it does not mean that he should resign."

He continued, asking, "Have they told Siddaramaiah to resign or have they asked to imprison him? When a person becomes a Central minister, he or she should realise their dignity and responsibility. Instead of recognising the good work done by Siddaramaiah, they ask him to resign. Will Kumarswamy (facing an FIR) resign? Should Siddaramaiah, who has become CM with a support of 135 MLAs, resign?"

"Opposition leaders are not remembering the good work of earlier CMs Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Veerendra Patil, Ramakrishna Hegde, H D Deve Gowda or S M Krishna. Karnataka is a model state. It is a bad trend to topple an elected government which is doing good work,” he further said.

Devegowda added, “Siddaramaiah is Goddess Chamundeshwari’s ‘Varaputra’ and hence has her blessings during tough times. He won the election in Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency, when the BJP-JD(S) government was in power in 2006. With the blessings of the Goddess, he has held varied positions right from becoming an MLA for the first time in 1983. He presented 15 budgets and has become CM for a second time. He took H C Mahadevappa, a Dalit leader to the state level. Siddaramaiah has the support of Deputy CM D K Shivakumar as ‘Jodeththu’. Blessings of the beneficiaries of guarantee schemes are with him (Siddaramaiah).” 

Siddaramaiah said, “Devegowda was a MUDA member. He knows the truth. Hence, he is saying this. His words have filled strength in me. ‘Satyameva Jayate’, Truth will always triumph.” 

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News Network
October 1,2024

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The BJP has selected Kishore Kumar Puttur as its candidate for the bypoll to Karnataka Legislative Council from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Local Authorities’ Constituency. The by-election will be held on October 21.

Kishore Kumar is presently serving as the General Secretary of Dakshina Kannada BJP unit. He had served as vice president of State BJP Yuva Morcha from 2014 to 2016.

The by-election will be held to the seat vacated by Kota Srinivas Poojary of the BJP who has been elected as the Lok Sabha member from Udupi-Chikmagaluru Lok Sabha constituency. The vacancy was created on June 15, 2024 following Poojary’s resignation to the Council. His term in the council was till January, 2028.

In the last Council election held for the dual member constituency in December 2021, Poojary had secured 3,672 votes while the Congress candidate Manjunath Bhandary had secured 2079 votes. Poojary and Bhandary had secured required votes from the first preferential votes and had won the election.

There were several aspirants for the BJP ticket including former MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, DK BJP president Satish Kumpala, Mangaluru divisional in-charge Uday Kumar Shetty, former minister Pramod Madhwaraj and former Udupi district BJP president Kuilady Suresh Nayak.

The Congress is yet to announce its candidate for the election. KPCC working president Manjunath Bhandary in a recent press meet in Mangaluru had said that an opportunity will be given to congress leaders from Udupi district to contest by-election.

The Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Local Authorities’ Constituency has 6037 voters including 3551 from Dakshina Kannada comprising eight MLAs, one MP. The last date for filing nomination is October 3 and the last date for withdrawal of nomination is October 7. The counting will be held on October 24.

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News Network
October 8,2024

Mangaluru: The by-election to the legislative council from the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi local authorities' constituency will be a contest among four candidates. An independent candidate, Muhammed Riyaz, has withdrawn his nomination on Monday, the last day for withdrawal.

Deputy commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP stated that candidates Kishore BR (BJP), Raju Poojary (Congress), Anwar Sadat S (SDPI), and Dinakar Ullal (independent) will be in the fray. 

Polling will be held at 392 booths in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts between 8am and 4pm on Oct 21.

A total of 6,032 voters from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi are eligible to vote. While there will be 234 polling booths in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi will have 158 stations. Gram panchayat members, corporators of the Mangaluru City Corporation, members of city municipal councils, town municipal councils, town panchayats, MLAs, MLCs, and Lok Sabha members are eligible to vote.

Election observer of the Election Commission of India (ECI), Pankaj Kumar Pandey, reviewed the poll preparations at the deputy commissioner's office on Monday. He issued directions to officials regarding arrangements to be made during the election and counting of votes.

The deputy commissioner stated that out of 6,032 voters, 3,127 are women and 2,905 are men. He said the counting of votes will be held at St Aloysius PU College in the city on Oct 24.

Udupi deputy commissioner Vidya Kumari K, city police commissioner Anupam Agrawal, Dakshina Kannada ZP CEO Anandh K, Dakshina Kannada SP Yathish N, Udupi SP Arun K, and additional deputy commissioners Santhosh Kumar G and Mamatha Devi were present.

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