Socially boycotted dalits file case

HUBLI: Thirty two dalit families in Nayakanur village, Navalgund taluk, 54 Kms from Hubli, neither celebrated the Independence Day nor did they stay at home to enjoy the national holiday. They seem to have lost all hope.

Upper caste people have allegedly socially boycotted these families under the pretext that they refused  to sweep cow dung at the house of an upper caste family. Though the controversy has been there it came to light now since one of the dalit families lodged a complaint at Navalgund police station alleging their social boycott.

According to Police sources Basappa Madar, 64, was working as servant with Andanigouda Patil. Basappa and his wife recently refused to continue working for Patil family. Then, Patil allegedly asked the other families in the village not to give Basappa and his wife any employment. When dalit families questioned this, Patil asked his fellow villagers not to give work to any of the dalit families and even to boycott them socially.

When the dalit families overcame their silent suffering and lodged a complaint the Navalgund Police have took up a case against six persons including Andanigouda Patil. However, the Police arrested Rajugouda Patil, Neelakanthagouda Patil, Basappa Benneppanavar, Karibasappa Javoor and Shankarappa Hugar and not the main accused Andanigouda Patil.

Inspector of the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement Sunil Megalamani had visited the village. He told Express that the local police had been investigating and main person was absconding. The dispute between Basappa and Patil family is the reason for the present controversy, he added.  

District Social Welfare Officer SR Mulla, who visited the village, told Express that the district administration was firm to provide employment for all dalit families in the village. The social boycott issue would be strongly dealt with, he clarified.

But the worried dalit families have started migrating out of the village. Dalit leader Marish Nagannavar said the situation was going bad to worst day by day.