This was brought to light at the monthly SC/ST grievance meet held at the Police Commissioner's office in Mangalore on Sunday.
In the meeting, Dalit representative S P Anand told the Deputy Commissioner of Police M Muthuraya that Shwetha, hailing from Mudigere taluk in Chikmagalur district, had been employed by Anitha Shelly for seven years for household chores at her house in Kottara on the outskirts of the city.
He said that Shwetha had borne a girl child out of wedlock in November 2008, and once she was discharged from the maternity hospital, she continued to do the chores at Anitha's house. Few days later, she was sent to do some chores and returned home only to find the child missing. On questioning, she was allegedly informed by Anitha that she had given the child away to be taken care in an ashram in Talapady, he said.
He told the DCP that Shwetha kept constantly questioning Anitha about her child's whereabouts, but Anitha never gave a reply. Instead Anitha had threatened Shwetha of dire consequences.
Surprisingly, even after five years had passed, Shwetha has no clue about her daughter's whereabouts. After persistent questioning she was told that the child had been sold to Saudi Arabia.
Mr Anand said that Shwetha quit her work on the same day, and also filed a case at Urwa police station on this regard on Friday. Shwetha also revealed that she had known of two other children who had previously been sold by Anitha.
In response, the DCP said that it was an important matter and instructed the station inspector concerned to conduct a detailed probe into the matter.
Alleged harassment at Home Guard office
In another case, a Dalit girl alleged that she faced harassment at work by a higher official at the Home Guard office where she worked.
Mr Anand said that Usha, from Suratkal, faced harassment at work by her senior official at the Home Guard office where she worked as a computer operator. “She is asked to come to duty even on Sundays without any reason. The harassment has been going on from November 2012,” he alleged.
To this, the DCP instructed the girl to file a written complaint to an inquiry committee at the Home Guard Department.
Bajpe landslide tragedy
In the meeting, Ashok Konchady told the DCP that the land belonging to the Dalits in Bajpe where the recent landslide had occurred was being illegally encroached by builders. He alleged that the building built had not taken any precautionary measures, due to which the landslide had occurred.
The builders are hand in gloves with the gram panchayat and slowly trying to drive Dalits out from the colony. Even a retaining wall was not built by them after encroachment of the land. The builders have also resorted to threatening the Dalit leaders who are fighting for our cause, he said, adding that an inquiry should be conducted in this regard under the SC/ST Prevention Act.
DCP Muthuraya instructed the officials concerned to conduct an investigation to determine if the claims were true, and to take suitable legal action against the builders.
He also instructed police officers to ensure protection and non-harassment of Dalits. While patrolling, visit Dalit colonies, talk to the leaders about the problems they face and try to solve them, he said.
Comments
Add new comment