Tension prevailed for some time at Bevukallu Hatna in Mandya taluk on Thursday when Dalits were assaulted by people of other castes and prevented from cremating the body of a woman.
There is no ground in the village, which is in Dudda hobli limits, where Dalits can cremate or bury bodies.
They have been urging the authorities to provide land for this purpose for several months.
According to the police, as a temporary arrangement, Dalits have been cremating or burying bodies on the outskirts of the village.
But on Thursday, a group of people from other castes opposed the cremation.
Subsequently, the Dalits staged a flash protest by keeping the body on the Mandya-Shravanabelagola State highway.
They urged the district administration to take action against the people of other castes who opposed the cremation.
The Shivalli police visited the spot and held a peace meeting with both groups.
The cremation took place in the evening under police protection, V.J. Shobharani, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Mandya subdivision), told The Hindu .
The protesters, meanwhile, demanded a permanent solution to the issue.
