Mangaluru, Mar 8: Alleging injustice to the Dalit community by the police department for withdrawing the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the accused in connection with an assault on a community member, a Dalit representative urged that the police department should conduct a re-inquiry in the case under the guidance of the Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police.
Speaking at the SC/ST monthly grievance meeting held at SP’s office here on Sunday, Dalit representative S P Anand alleged that the police department was trying to trivialise the assault case on a Dalit youth which occurred nearly a month ago in Belthangady, by failing to invoke sections under the Prevention of Atrocities Act against the three accused in the assault case of a Dalit youth.
Ramesh was publicly assaulted in broad daylight in front of the city bus stand in Belthangady by three assailants. When a complaint was registered, the concerned police initially booked the three youth responsible for the assault under the Atrocities Act and were considering withdrawing sections under the Act. The victim was admitted to the hospital for the injuries he sustained in the assault and faces a threat to his life by the accused, he said, urging the police department to retain the relevant sections of the Atrocities Act.
In response, Additional Superintendent of Police Shekharappa said that the case was still under police investigation and a chargesheet would be filed against the accused after a thorough investigation.
He clarified that sections of the Atrocities Act had not been invoked since the assault was not a question of insult to the SC/ST community and the injuries sustained by the victim were minor. A detailed inquiry will be conducted in this regard, he assured the complainants.
Mr Anand also urged an investigation in the mysterious death of a Dalit woman Geeta who was found dead in a rivulet in Sullia police station limits last month. The death is being treated as a suicide since there were no sign of wounds on her body. However, she had been facing mental harassment from a certain Kushalappa Gowda before her death due to a land dispute between the two and there is suspicion among the locals that he may have been responsible for her death, he said, urging for a re-investigation in the case.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Bantwal Rahul Kumar assured that the police department would re-examine both the cases.
In the case of alleged misappropriation of funds meant for Dalits under housing schemes in Sullia taluk, the status of the investigation of the case was enquired to which Mr Shekharappa replied that the investigation was a long process and irregularities under the housing schemes should be first established with the zilla panchayat officials before legal action could be taken against the accused.
Several Dalit representatives and members were present on the occasion.
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