Two Dalit families face social boycott

Two Dalit families of Vaddarahalli in Chikkamagaluru taluk have allegedly been socially boycotted by the people of Kuruba and other communities for refusing to continue the duties performed by their ancestors.

As per the decisiontaken at a village meeting, the residents should not interact with Siddaiah and Rangaiah, brothers, and their families. Grocery and milk shops have been told to not sell anything to them. All this, according to Siddaiah, was because his brother and he refused to continue the duties they were forced to do all these years.

“During Ugadi celebrations, they (“upper” caste) asked us to spread the message of the festival by going around the village beating the drums. My brother refused to do it. Since then, they have been angry with us,” he said. The matter was raked up again on May 29, when Ninge Gowda, a resident belonging to the “upper” caste, picked up an argument with Siddaiah on the same issue.

Both had a heated argument, following which Ninge Gowda convened a meeting of other residents. The meeting, held on May 30, resolved to impose a penalty of Rs. 2,001 each on Siddaiah and his brother, he said.

As both refused to pay the penalty, the village residents asked others to boycott the two families.

Case registered

Siddaiah has filed a complaint against Ninge Gowda, Channe Gowda, Jayanna, Basavaraju, Dharmachari, Krishnamurthy, and Krishne Gowda, all local residents, with the Chikkamagaluru Rural police.