Kundapur: Panchayat attender assaults professor, locals seek action
Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (DV)
Kundapur, Sep 19: A gram panchayat attender recklessly attacked a senior professor for accidently spewing spittle on him. The embarrassing incident took place at Shankarnarayana gram panchayat.
Though the professor admitted his mistake, the attender brutally attacked him, which led to protest from students and the public.
The incident took place during a programme held at Narayana gram panchayat. The programme began a week ago. Three days back, Halady College professor along with his family went to attend the programme. The professor, who is a Harikatha performer, had the habit of chewing betelnut. While the professor was chewing betelnut, he accidently sneezed. He held his hand over his mouth to avoid spewing on others. But accidently, he spewed a little on Krishna Devadiga, a daily waged gram panchayat attender of same panchayat. It is also said that the professor apologized to the attender for his mistake.
After the programme, Krishna Devadiga, who was waiting outside for the professor, allegedlt attacked the professor as he came out. Though the professor fell over Krishna Devadiga’s feet apologizing, he continued to attack the professor, sources said.
As the news went viral, students and public came forward and protested. The protest even got political support. A siege was laid in front of Shankarnarayana gram panchayat. Over a hundred people took part in this protest and formed human chain.
A protest meeting was held after which a memorandum was submitted to gram panchayath to sack Krishna Devadiga. On receiving the memorandum gram panchayat president assured to take action after discussions in gram panchayat meeting.
"Krishna Devadiga who has been working from past 16 years learnt the weakness of representatives and officers. He also misused their weakness. In an earlier case involving the panchayat development officer (PDO), Krishna Devadiga had supported PDO in his wrongdoing. Even this time the PDO will save him," the protestors alleged.