GULBARGA: Harijans in a village in Bijapur were beaten up; one of them was even forced to drink urine by a group of so-called high caste Hindus according to D.G Sagar, convener of the Dalit Sang harsh Samiti here.
Sagar said a group of caste Hindus invaded the Harijan colony at Tamadoddi in Muddebihal Taluk and assaulted men and women, At least 10 people were seriously injured and were now undergoing treatment at the Bijapur district hospital, he said.
Sagar said the mob chased the Harijans and beat up one of them, Hanuman that, who fell
Unconscious due to the assault. When he was being given water to drink by his relatives, a group of caste Hindus came there, threatened the women and forced Hanuman that to drink urine, he alleged. The Harijans of Tamadoddi have also been socially boycotted by the upper castes of the village, and denied work in the village. They were not allowed access to the civic amenities, he said.
The police and the district administration were trying to hush up the entire incident, he alleged.
The explanation by the police that the clash was a sequel to a quarrel over fetching water from a bore well was totally false and misleading, he said.
According to Sagar, in late September, some Dalits of the village went to the hotel of one C.Chinappa and insisted on being served tea along with others. This, inked the upper castes and they decided to teach the Harijans a lesson, he said.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 15, 1991
