Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network-Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Mar 9: The members of Dalit Hitarakshana Samiti Hiriyadka (DHSH) on Wednesday March 9 staged a protest near Board High School against PSI Rafiq and condemned his alleged attack on a dalit youth.
Convener of the group Dejappa Karkera said, “The act of Hiriyadka PSI Rafiq beating a dalit youth, Kiran (18), for no reason during clashes between BJP and Congress members at Bombarabettu on Saturday February 21 was uncalled forth.”
The dalit youth was admitted in the hospital for 12 days for treatment.
Dejappa Karkera informed that they had approached SP K Annamalai regarding the incident and urged him to take action against PSI. But SP refused any help by saying that he was the youngest SI in the department.
On Monday, February 22, another victim Sudarshan (19) was beaten up by the same PSI at Guddeyangadi near Hiriyadka. The youth was allegedly riding his bike without helmet. The beaten youth also belongs to dalit community. He was also injured and was admitted in the hospital for many days.
Earlier, Samiti members had decided to hold a protest on Wednesday, March 2 but the police department did not allow them to sit for protest.
The committee members have already met SP Annamalai regarding the incident. They have given a deadline of ten days to take action against PSI. If their demand is not met, they will approach Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for justice.
“No one is ready to take the complaints. The registered case has been twisted to their advantage,” he said.
Babitha, Rekha, Suresh Kondady, Ramesh, Mallika and Shankar were present.
SP Annamalai issues clarifications regarding allegations
SP K Annamalai issued the following clarifications regarding the allegations by convener of Dalit Samiti Dejappa Karkera.
“Convener of Dalit Samiti, Dejappa Karkera, along with other members conducted protests against PSI Hiriadka and me near Clock Tower, Udupi on Wednesday March 9. I like to clarify that on February 20, 2016, the day of Zilla panchayat and Taluk panchayat elections, PSI has dispersed the mob indulged in publicity at a distance within 100 meters from the polling booth of Bommarabettu gram Mundunje School at 3 pm by mild lathi charge. As per complaint from the PSI, a case was registered against Suresh Naika and ten others at Hiriadka police station. Out of them, 8th suspect Kiran has got himself admitted as a patient at 10 pm at Ajjarkadu district hospital. As I got the information, I visited the hospital at 10.30 pm and questioned Kiran. He has lodged a complaint of violence against Hiriadka PSI and the case is registered at Hiriadka police station. CPI Kundapur circle has been asked to conduct further investigation of these two cases.”
“Further after two days i.e. on February 22, at 6 pm Hiriadka PSI stopped Sudarshan who was riding his motor cycle too fast and carelessly while speaking on the mobile near Guddeyangadi at Bommarabettu gram. While asked to produce the records, he spoke
in breeziness and fled leaving the bike there. A case was registered against him. He too got himself admitted in the hospital that night complaining about violence by Hiriadka PSI. The matter is being investigated at Hiriadka police station. Further investigation of these two cases will be conducted by CPI Udupi circle.”
“There are cases pending and under investigation at Hiriadka police station against Dejappa Karkera. Further, there are complaints that Dejappa Karkera is ringing the bell of a temple near his house. A complaint has been lodged in Human rights commission cell. A report is submitted to the commission after investigation.”
“As per the rules of state election commission, election campaign within a radius of 100 meters from the voting booth is banned. A mild lathi charge was necessary to disperse the crowd for contravening the rule and ignoring the instructions of the PSI. PSI Hiriadka is the investigating officer regarding the complaints registered against me.”
“The protests against PSI Hiriadka are being held to provide false information to the people.”
“Permission is requested to conduct protests against PSI Hiriadka in front of district police office on March 2. The protests are held against me also as the permission was denied. However they have been permitted to hold protests elsewhere”.