Udupi: Protesters slam upper caste Hindu atrocities on Dalits

September 15, 2015

Udupi, Sep 15: Registering their protest against increasing atrocities on Dalits by “upper caste” Hindus across the state, members of the Udupi district committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) staged a dharna in front of the Clock Tower here.

The protesters demanded stringent action against those who practice and promote casteism and treat Dalits as animals.

Speaking on the occasion, Balakrishna Shetty, secretary of the district committee, said that it was unfortunate that after 68 years of Independence, Dalits were not being allowed entry in a temple in Sigaranahalli village in Holenarsipur taluk, which was part of the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency represented by the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. Mr. Gowda’s son and the former Minister, H.D. Revanna, represented the Assembly constituency there.

On September 6, when four Dalit women tried to enter the temple, members of the upper castes opposed it. To protest against this, members of the CPI(M) and progressive thinkers and Dalit leaders decided to hold a “sahabhojana” (meal partaken by all communities) at Sigaranahalli and then enter the temple on September 12.

But the police arrested all the leaders at Hassan and prevented them from going to Siraganahalli.

This was an illegal act, he allged. The police not only arrested but also slapped legal cases against the State Secretary of the CPI(M) G.V. Sriram Reddy, writer J.H. Narayana Swami and journalist Venkatesh Murthy.

Several phases of protests were held against the boycott of Dalits in Malakumbi village in Gangavati taluk of Koppal district. A person Dodda Veeresh, who was a prime witness to the atrocities against Dalits there, had been killed. Though two months had elapsed since his murder, no one had been arrested.

Instead, the police arrested and foisted cases against leaders of CPI(M), who demanded a probe into Veeresh’s murder. The persons against whom the cases were slapped included M.A. Baby, member of the CPI(M) politburo, K. Radhakrishnan, former Minister of Kerala, and Mr. Sriram Reddy. Mr. Shetty alleged that there was an increase in atrocities against Dalits in the State. The Congress government was doing nothing to prevent it, he added.

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Post-Sabarimala pilgrimage drinking party turns fatal in Udupi; youth killed in midnight brawl

News Network

December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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