Three residents of the Dalit colony, who raised their voice against untouchability prevailing at Sigaranahalli, a village in Holenarsipur taluk, have been branded by the taluk administration as persons most likely to disturb peace and harmony in the village.
The administration has issued notices to them under Section 107 of the Criminal Procedure Code and asked them to appear before the taluk magistrate.
Thayamma, K.T. Kumar and Umesh — all belonging to Scheduled Castes — have received the notices. Ms. Thayamma is one among the four Dalit women, who attracted penalty from the “upper caste” people for entering the Basaveshwara Temple in the village in September.
Many Dalit residents opposed the penalty imposed on the women and staged protests against untouchability still in vogue in the village. In fact, they had demanded that the district administration allow them to enter the community hall constructed with government funds in the village.
For the last 15 years, Dalits have been barred from entering the community hall.
Notice issued
A notice dated December 18 was issued from the office of Holenarsipur tahsildar, which said that the Holenarsipur Rural police had informed the taluk administration that Ms. Thayamma, Mr. Kumar and Mr. Umesh were likely to disturb peace and order in the village. In order to ensure peace in the village, the three should be summoned and warned. The notice had been issued based on the police report.
However, the Dalits of the village argued that there was no reason for the taluk administration to suspect them to be disturbing peace.
“We have never indulged in any sort of violence. There are no police cases against us. What made the police to brand us as troublemakers?” asked Mr. Umesh.
The Hassan district administration and H.D. Revanna, Holenarsipur MLA, had held meetings in the village to resolve the issue, but in vain. The Dalits are still not allowed to enter the community hall and the temple has been closed ever since the Dalit women entered it.
AT A GLANCE
Notice issued to three under Section 107 of Cr. PC
They have been asked to appear before taluk magistrate
One of the three was among the four women who entered Basaveshwara Temple and got penalised
Notice issued based on police report
Dalits are still not allowed to enter the community hall in Sigaranahalli
