Members of the Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (DSS) staged a dharna in front of the district police office here on Saturday seeking the arrest of an advocate who, they alleged, had cheated a poor Dalit family.
In a memorandum addressed to the Superintendent of Police, convener of the district unit of DSS Jayan Malpe alleged that an Udupi-based advocate, Alevoor Premraj Kini, had submitted false documents to the district court regarding an accident compensation of Rs. 2.57 lakh to a poor Dalit family.
The police officer at Udupi Town Police Station initially hesitated to register a complaint against the advocate. The matter was before the sessions court now,Mr. Malpe said.
Though the case was registered last week, the action had not been taken against the advocate. This had led to a suspicion whether the police were trying to protect the advocate. The police should immediately arrest the advocate, he said.
The DSS had brought the matter to the notice of the Superintendent of Police on August 1 through a letter. The DSS had also raised this issue in the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes grievances redressal meeting presided over by the Deputy Commissioner on August 3. But no action had been taken to arrest the advocate, he said.
Hence, to protest against the “failure” of the police and to press for the arrest of the advocate, the DSS had been forced to stage a protest in front of the district police office. If the police did not arrest the advocate, the DSS would intensify its protest, the memorandum said.
Writer and president of district unit of Karnataka Komu Sauharda Vedike G. Rajashekar, zilla panchayat member Mallika Ashok, writers K. Phaniraj and Hayavadana Moodusagri, president of Janapara Vedike Ram Divana, DSS leaders Vishwanath Pethri, Karunakar Master, Sundari Puttur, and Shekhar Hejmady were present.
