Balaraj, one of the five Dalits of Shantipura village in Koppa taluk of Chikkamagaluru district, who was assaulted by Hindutva activists on the charge of stealing and slaughtering a cow, has sought police protection.
He made this appeal before senior police officers, who visited his residence on Sunday.
Additional Superintendent of Police Annappa Nayak and Deputy Superintendent of Police Ravi Nayak spoke to Mr. Balaraj, whose arm has been fractured in the attack. The officers assured him of protection and said the police would take action against the accused.
Mr. Balaraj, an agriculture worker, has no earnings since 15 days because of his broken arm. Speaking to The Hindu, he wondered who gave the authority to the Hindutva groups to attack him and his neighbours. “Our people bought the cow for a price from Nagappa Gowda. It was not stolen. If we committed some blunder, the police should inquire. Who are these Hindutva group activists to attack us?” he asked.
Later in the evening, senior officers held a meeting in the neighbouring Jayapura with people’s representatives. Chikkamagaluru Zilla Panchayat vice-president S.N. Ramaswamy Shetty said he was not opposed to taking action against the attackers, but innocents should not be harassed. “Among the seven people, against whom the case was registered, three were not at the spot. Their names have been included for political reasons,” he alleged. The BJP leaders, who attended the meeting, criticised that Komu Souharda Vedike for making it an issue by misleading the media.
