Tension as Dalit Sena seeks full relief to rape-murder victim

There was tension for more than two hours in the Vikas Soudha complex here on Thursday following an angry protest by members of the Dalit Sena against what they called delay in payment of full compensation to the family of a 14-year-old Dalit girl who was allegedly raped and murdered at Aralagundigi village in Jewargi taluk in Kalaburagi district on March 28 this year.

The Dalit Sena workers, led by vice-president of the State unit Hanumanth Yelsangi and other district leaders, who all had a piece of cloth tied around their mouth came in a silent processing braving scorching heat from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Chowk to the Deputy Commissioner’s office in the complex, also demanded other facilities, including sanction of two acres of land and construction of a house, for the family of the victim.

The workers were involved in a heated exchange of words with Additional Deputy Commissioner Govind Reddy when he met them to receive a memorandum. Things took a turn for the worse following an argument between the official and the sena leaders over the mode of payment of compensation.

Later, the Sena leaders refused to hand over the memorandum to Mr. Reddy and insisted that Deputy Commissioner Vipul Bansal receive the memorandum and answer the queries raised by them. Later, Mr. Bansal, who met the Sena workers who were squatting at the main entrance gate of the Vikas Soudha shouting slogans against the district administration, said that the district administration had immediately responded to the death of the Dalit girl and had paid a compensation of Rs 1.75 lakh to the family.

He said that the full compensation to the family would be paid after the police filed a charge-sheet in the case.

Mr. Hanumanth Yelsangi said that as per the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Atrocities (Prevention) Act, if the victim is kidnapped, raped and murdered, the family is entitled for an immediate compensation of Rs. 5 lakh. Mr. Bansal said that the compensation of Rs. 1.75 lakh paid to the family was not the final compensation. Based on the charge-sheet to be filed by the police, the district administration would release the remaining compensation, he said.

“Superintendent of Police Amit Singh and I met the family of the victim immediately after the incident and promised all help, including providing a house or funds for the repair of the existing house, to the family. If there is such a provision, the district administration will sanction 2 acres of land to the family based on its income,” Mr. Bansal said.

Tension as Dalit Sena seeks full relief to rape-murder victim

The workers were involved in a heated exchange with Additional Deputy Commissioner Govind Reddy when he met them to receive a memorandum.