Karnataka
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Mangalore: SC/ST Grievance Meet Cancellation Irks Dalit Leaders
- Mon, Mar 26 2012 10:26:04 AM
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Mar 26: The routine monthly SC/ST grievance meeting held on the last Sunday of every month, turned into a protest by SC/ST leaders as they alleged that the meeting was cancelled without them being given prior notice.
Though police officials tried to pacify the gathering of about 40 SC/ST people, a protest was held in front of the police commissioner’s office on Sunday March 25. However, city police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh is not in the city as he is in Bangalore.
Police officers say that in a circular sent to the police commissioner by the high police authority, they had been ordered to hold monthly grievance meetings at the respective Dalit colonies. Also, circulars were sent to the police stations in this regard. However, SC/ST leaders claim that they did not receive any information on ‘colony meetings’. Police officers responded that the mobile numbers of some Dalit leaders were not reachable. This tussle of words went on until the senior police officials assured them of holding the SC/ST grievance meeting next Sunday. ACP T R Jagannath and DCP Muthuraya were present on the spot. Dalit leaders SP Anand, Keshava, Lingappa Nanthur were present.
It may be recalled that at a monthly meeting of Dalits convened by the police department at the police commissioner's office on Sunday February 26, the Dalits had complained that despite expressing their problems and issues in every meeting, justice still eludes them. Dalits, for about an hour, had held a dharna at the meeting venue and demanded justice on various issues.