Equal response to all complaints is the motto of police, but for some inexplicable reasons that is not happening in the case of T. Mallikarjun.
It is more than six weeks since this Dalit social activist from Kawkur of Jawaharnagar on city’s northern fringes was “assaulted” by a group of persons on Republic Day this year. Based on his complaint, the Jawaharnagar police of Rachakonda Commissionerate registered a case under the Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act against T. Vikram Goud and others.
Interestingly, while he was arrested and lodged in prison for three days following a complaint by his rivals in the same incident, no action was taken till now against the accused in the other case in which the Special Act was invoked.
On this January 26, T. Mallikarjun was taking part in flag hoisting programme on GHMC grounds at Rajeev Gruhakalpa Colony of Kawkur when a group of persons allegedly picked up an argument with him.
They asked R. Arun Kumar, son of Telugu Desam Party MLA R. Krishnaiah, – who was invited to hoist the flag– not to encourage the Dalit activist.
A woman Lingayath Kavitha, in her complaint, stated that Mallikarjun abused and assaulted women after an altercation while hoisting the flag. Following her complaint, police registered cases against both Mallikarjun and the other group.
Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 324 (causing hurt using dangerous weapons), 509 (word, gesture intended to insult modesty of woman), 354 (outraging woman's modesty) and 149 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code were invoked against them.
“While cases were booked against two parties, only me and my two friends were arrested. Other accused are roaming free,” Mr. Mallikarjun claims. After the arrest, he and his two friends were remanded in judicial custody. They came out on bail three days later.
Seeking justice
“I don’t know what evidence police have to fix me in the case, but I have video clip in which it is clearly visible that I was being rounded up and assaulted,” maintained Mr. Mallikarjun. Though disappointed by the delay in police action, the social activist is determined to secure justice.
He is knocking on the doors of police top brass hoping the attackers would get punished.
