Silvester D' Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Jun 7: Shashikanth, second son of Kumbhashi resident G Narasimha, a Dalit had died under mysterious circumstances two years ago when he was a second year degree student in a college. The fights and campaigns by Shashikanth family for justice have been futile. The family is still spending time in grief.

Shashikanth, employed in a private company in Bengaluru had got CET admission in the government engineering college in Yaramarasa campus area, Raichur in 2013. He was subjected to violence and ragging while in the college. He had told about it to his family people. However, he had to continue in the college as he was not given a transfer certificate.

Shashikanth's parents

His lecturer Shahistha Begum used to telephone him and send mobile messages. When he refused to respond, he had to face mental torture. He was finally reported missing while he was returning to his room after college on February 24, 2014. His dead body was found in a well without fence in a remote place on the way to Mantralaya in Malahabad Yaragara police station limits nearly 27 kilometres away from the college. He had strangled marks with rope on his neck, hit marks on his cheeks and a cut on his neck.

His father lodged a complaint at Yaragara police station stating that it is a pre planned murder by College principal, teacher Shahistha Begum and two students. Dalit associations also had submitted their requests. Neither the police department nor the groups and associations have been able to provide justice regarding the death of Shashikanth. The family has not even received compensation though the requests have reached the chief minister and district administration.

Shashikanth's mother has been bedridden since his death. Though his father Narasimha is employed in Kundapur post office, his income is less. One has to wait and see whether the government or concerned officials act at least now.