Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Dec 2: It is gathered that those who assaulted Shivaram, president of Backward Classes Awareness Forum, on the day of Champashashti Car Festival at Subrahmanya in the taluk relating to controversy surrounding Made Made Snana ritual, have gone into hiding. The policemen have launched a search operation to nab them.

A case of assault stands registered against Nagesh from Subrahmanya and 20 others in Subrahmanya police station in this connection. Another case also has been registered against Shivaram. In the meanwhile, the temple executive officer has served a show cause notice on Nagesh, employee of the temple.

In a press conference held at Mangalore on Thursday, Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti district convener, Chandu L, demanded for the resignation of minister, Dr V S Acharya on moral grounds. He alleged that Acharya had given tacit support to the assault. Dalit Sangharsha Samiti Udupi unit also has condemned the assault and asked the government to register cases against superintendent of police, Labhu Ram, and deputy commissioner, for dithering in the matter of registration of cases relating to the assault, under the Prevention of Atrocities Act. Dalit Sangharsh Samiti Udupi district chief convener, Jayan Malpe also has condemned the incident.

Various other organizations too have demanded action against people responsible for the incident.

Brahmana Parishat president, K Srinivas Hebbar, in a release from Kundapur, condemned the derogatory comments passed by some participants during discussion on Made Made Snana ritual televised on a channel, against Sri Vidyaprasannateertha Swamiji of Subrahmanya Mutt, Pejavar Swamiji, and minister, Dr V S Acharya. He said that discussions which are prejudicial in nature and backed by hatred of Brahmins alone can never reach their logical ends.