Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network — Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Aug 8: Karnataka Komu Sauharda Vedike, Karnataka Dalit Sangarsha Samiti (DSS) and other left wing members on Friday August 7 jointly staged a protest at Clock Tower against land owner Gopalkrishna Gowda’s atrocities against poor tribal Sundar Malekudiya.

Twelve days ago, Gowda and his henchmen chopped the hands of Malekudiya but the former has not been arrested by Belthangady police so far, even though there is sufficient evidence.

K Paniraj said, “Now, Malekudiya is in very bad condition. The police have to arrest Gowda. The superintendent of police has given a newspaper statement that the department has decided to impose Goonda Act on Gopalkrishna Gowda. The strike is only the best way for getting justice from the court. He should get stringent punishment. Gowda has strong political support, so that’s how he has encroached SC/ST reservation lands.”

He further said that due to the Forest Land Act 1927, the government is promoting businessmen instead of supporting tribal people in shifting cultivation.

Shekhar, belonging to the Malekudiya community, addressing the protestors said, “I still doubt our nation’s democratic system and whether landlords are monitoring the nation or the people’s representatives.”

He further said that politicians are acting like slaves of land owners. “People of tribal communities still have no permission to enter Kataji, Kolodi streets. Untouchability, caste discrimination and blind beliefs are still in alive in the society,” he alleged.

Shekhar demanded Gowda’s arrest by August 14 and said or else the Left parties will not allow Independence Day celebrations in Belthangady taluk.

Rajshekhar, Balakrishna Shetty, Mohammad Idris Hoode, DSS leader Jayan Malpe, William Martis, and Shekar Hemmady were present.