Among those arrested by the Hassan police in connection with the violence that broke out at Sigaranahalli in Hassan district on April 1, a majority are women.
The police allegedly took women into custody as most of the men had left the village anticipating police action, said local residents. Among the 29 arrested, 24 are women.
Renuka (28), whose husband Dinesh is in Mumbai, was among those arrested on Sunday. A mother of twins, she had to go with the police with nobody to take care of her children back home. “The mother is in prison, while the father is in Mumbai. Who will take care of the children? And Renuka hardly comes out of her house, forget taking part in any clash or violence,” said a resident.
A few policemen, two journalists and senior officers, including Superintendent of Police R.K. Shahapurwad and Assistant Commissioner E. Vijaya, were assaulted in the violence on April 1. The angry mob had opposed the district administration’s move to take Dalits into the Basaveshwara Temple in the village. They threw stones at police vehicles and officers.
The police arrested 29 people on Sunday. They were later remanded in judicial custody.
Sharadamma (55), who has a petty shop in the village, was also arrested. Her son Parameshwara told The Hindu on Tuesday, “My mother did not go out of the house when the incidents happened. In fact, when she did not open her shop, the police made her open it as they required snacks during their stay in the village. She never anticipated that the police, whom she helped, would arrest her. In the guise of taking her signature, they took her to their van.”
Yashodamma and her son Revanna were also arrested. Yashodamma’s husband Shivanna, a person with disability, is alone at home with none to look after him. “We are not opposed to arresting those involved in the violence, but many innocents have been arrested. They are facing charges as serious as attempt to murder (Sec 307 of the Indian Penal Code),” said a resident. The relatives of those arrested have moved court seeking bail.
Mr. Shahapurwad, however, denied the allegation that innocents were arrested. “We have arrested 29 people, including 24 women. No innocent has been arrested. The matter is under investigation,” he said.
No innocent has been arrested. The matter is under investigation.
R.K. Shahapurwad,Superintendent of Police
