Five Dalits attacked in Karnakata

Hindutva activists allege that the victims had 'stolen' and 'slaughtered' a cow.

At a time when Gujarat is seeing an agitation over the assault on Dalits in the name of “cow protection”, a group of Hindutva activists allegedly assaulted five persons in Chikkamagaluru district, claiming they had “stolen and slaughtered” a cow.

The victims, two of whom suffered fractures, claimed it happened in the presence of the police. Though the attack by those said to be associated with Bajrang Dal occurred on July 10, it came to light only on Saturday when activists of the Komu Souharda Vedike raised the issue.

The victims were identified as Balaraj (56), Muthappa (26), Dhanush (24), Sandeep (20), and Ramesh (35), all from Shantipura and Kunduru villages, in the Jayapura police station limits.

Balaraj, one of the injured, told

The Hindu that around 25 people barged into Muthappa’s house in Shantipura village around 11 p.m. when they had assembled for dinner, which included beef dishes.

They started attacking, saying that the cow had been stolen and slaughtered, even as the victims said it was given to them by a resident of Shantipura village. The Jayapura police took Balaraj, Muthappa, and Dhanush into custody, while Sandeep and Ramesh escaped.

Suo motu case

They booked a suo motu case under the provisions of the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964. The three were released on bail the next day. Later, Balaraj filed a case against seven attackers under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. None has been arrested so far.