Mangalore, March 5: Raising concern over the arrest of Vittal Malekudiya, a journalism post graduate student from Mangalore University, by the Anti Naxal Force sleuths on the charges of being naxal sympathiser, Belthangady taluk Dalita Hakkugala Horata Samiti Secretary Eshwari Padmunja claimed that the boy was innocent and requested the Superintendent of Police to release him.
At the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes monthly grievance meet held at SP's office on Sunday, Eshwari said that police charges against the boy was far from reality. “The boy who hails from Kuthloor in Belthangady taluk is the member of Adivasi Samanvaya Samiti. He was always in the forefront to fight for the benefit of people and he opposed naxalism. Why was he arrested without proper base?” she asked.
Meanwhile, she requested the SP to release the boy taking into consideration his academic career. The boy is supposed to write his university examinations in a few days. The arrest would affect his studies, she said.
Responding to her request, Superintendent of Police Abhishek Goyal stated that the enquiry is being conducted and the boy and his father will be set free if they are found innocent.
Coming down heavily on Belthangady Circle Inspector Balakrishnaiah for insulting her for being a Dalit, Eshwari urged the SP to suspend the Inspector.
“I had been to the Belthangady police station recently with regard to a complaint pertaining to one Dinesh Naik. But the Circle Inspector insulted me saying 'if I am a Dalit I should stay at home.' His attitude is the same with all Dalits,” she rued.
The Superindent of Police said that he was already informed about the matter and the preliminary enquiry has revealed no evidence against the Inspector.
“We would conduct further enquiry and take disciplinary action against the Inspector if he is proved guilty. However, the department will not suspend him.”
Dalit girl abused
Dalit Sangharsh Samiti leader S P Anand narrated an incident where a Dalit girl from Sullia was abused by an upper-caste man Mohan Gowda (50). Mohan Gowda is married and has three children, but he abused the II PUC girl wooing her of providing a job. The man locked her in a room and developed physical relationship with the girl. The incident had happened three months ago and First Information Report was filed in Sullia Police Station. The police took the girl into the custody and later shifted her to Prajna Counselling Centre in Mangalore. But in the recent development, Mohan Gowda has taken away the girl from the Centre. How could he take her all by himself without bringing it to the notice of the police, questioned Anand.
The SP directed the Sullia Circle Inspector to take up the matter for further investigation.
Poor response
The SC / ST meet received a very poor response on Sunday, so much so that the SP quipped, “It appears like police personnel and journalists have outnumbered the SC / ST community members in today's meet.”
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