Dalit groups protest delay in arrest of estate owner who assaulted woman

NT Correspondent

Chikkamagaluru: Members of the Dalit Sanghatanegala Okkuta shouted slogans against Chikkamagaluru district administration during Rajyostava procession as no action has been taken against a coffee estate owner, who has been alleged of assaulting a pregnant Dalit woman.

The woman had suffered a miscarriage after the incident. Various Dalit organisations went on an indefinite strike starting October 27 at the Chikkamagaluru’s Azad Park, however, 20 protesters have now been detained after the agitation on Rajyostava day.

Bringing up the gruesome details of the torture unleashed by the accused Jagadeesh Gowda on the Dalit workers amid his estate, the protesters questioned why the authorities are yet to take action. He had illegally confined a Dalit family in a room in at Hunasehallipura. As the procession moved, the protesters raised slogans against the district administration, state government and the MLA.

These protesters were then taken away by police and other setups such as shamiyanas and public addressing systems from the protest spot were dismantled. A few protesters who managed to reach the district ground where the Rajyotsava function were also taken into custody. Condemning the action by the police, a few protesters staged a protest at Azad Park Circle.