Special Correspondent
Darshanapur forced to hear their grievances; promises action against killers of Dalit farmer
GULBARGA: The Dalits of Alahal, facing the social boycott and continued harassment from the police, on Friday staged a demonstration in front of the residence of Agriculture Marketing Minister Sharanabasappa Darshanapur and extracted an assurance from him to protect Dalit families in the village and initiate action against those responsible for the death of Dalit farmer Parmanna on June 19.
The Dalits, led by the Communist Party of India (CPI-M) leaders, including State secretariat member Maruti Manpade, district committee member Megharaj Khatare, Virupakshappa Tadkal, and others who came in a procession to the residence of the Minister, were stopped more than 200 metres away from the residence.
For about 30 minutes, the protesters, who squatted on the road, rejected the suggestion of the police to take a delegation of four persons to the residence of the Minister to submit their memorandum and discuss their problem. This forced Mr. Darshanapur to come to the spot where the Dalits and CPI (M) workers and leaders were protesting and hear their plea.
Mr. Manpade, who gave a brief account of the plight of Dalits at Alahal in the Shahapur Assembly Constituency, represented by Mr. Darshanapur. He said the Dalits drew water from the same well from which the “upper castes” too took water and entered the temple.
As a punishment to Dalits, a social boycott was imposed on the Dalits. All lease agreements of Dalit farmers were cancelled.
Parmanna had taken a piece of agriculture land on lease from Guranna Gowda and had completed the agriculture operations when the lease was cancelled. He had refused to vacate the land demanding compensation.
Even when the dispute remained unsettled, the Dalit farmer was found hanging from a tree on June 19 leading to tension and clashes in the village.
Mr. Manpade said the police were acting in a partisan manner. He wanted the accused mentioned in a complaint lodged by Parmanna’s family.
Mr. Darshanapur refuted the allegations that he was pressuring the police not to arrest the accused.
When the dalits and the CPI(M) leaders rejected the offer of instituting a CoD inquiry, the Minister said he would write to Home Minister M.P. Prakash and Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to hand over the investigation of the case to CBI.
About the social boycott and foisting of cases against Dalits, Mr. Darshanapur said he would convene a meeting of the tahsildar of Surpur and Deputy Superintendent of Police and instruct them to take steps to end the social boycott and not to harass Dalits.