Mangalore, Aug 7: Condemning the ruthless assault on two Dalit sisters for indecent and vulgar exposure in Belthangady taluk, Dalit leaders demanded that the district administration should arrest the assailants as well as police officials who were involved in the attack.
Speaking at a press meet here on Tuesday, member of Dakshina Kannada District Awareness and In-charge Committee Honnappa Kunder said that the Dalit sisters were assaulted and molested by locals Kishore Kulal, Shekhar Shetty, Wilfy and Dolphy after being chased by the four accused, who branded them as prostitutes, for the sole reason that they were dressed inappropriately.
“The two girls were further dragged to the police station and berated and beaten by lady constables, who also condemned their caste. Without any subsequent medical treatment or preliminary investigation, they were produced before court and kept in custody at Mangalore Central Jail for three days. Despite the fact that one of the girls is a minor, the police did not bother to check this before producing her in the court. The police even failed to file a case based on their complaint. To this day, no FIR has been filed by the police based on the complaint given by them,” he said.
He alleged that while they were taken for treatment prior to keeping them in custody, the medical officer at Belthangady government hospital refused to treat them on the basis of their caste, thereby insulting them.
President of Bharata Ratna Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Samaja Seva Sangha of Bantwal taluk Bhanuchandra Krishnapura contended that none of the so-called progressive organisations or women associations came forward to raise their voice for this cause, as the victims belonged to Dalit community.
Strict action should be taken against the accused, police officers and medical officer involved in the case, and they should be booked under Child Rights Act and Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, he urged the authorities.
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