Assault on Dalit sisters: Dalits demand action against accused

August 7, 2013

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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JD(S) leader G T Devegowda backs CM Siddaramaiah in MUDA row, taunts HDK

News Network

October 4,2024

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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