A Dalit couple was humiliated at Arasamma Temple in Tumakuru. An FIR was filed under SC/ST Act.
A newly married Dalit couple was allegedly humiliated inside a temple in Karnataka and forced to leave the premises in an apparent case of caste discrimination.
The incident took place at Goni village in Tumakuru district on February 19 when the Dalit couple visited the Arasamma Temple. It is learnt that a man belonging to an upper caste, identified as Narayanappa, allegedly pretended to be possessed by a deity and told the couple that they were not allowed inside the temple.
Footage from the temple shows Narayanappa blocking the pathway to the deity while kneeling, before standing and shouting at the family, forcing them to get out of the temple. The couple reportedly faced humiliation before leaving the temple. He reportedly shouted, “Dalits cannot enter temple. Leave immediately.”
Speaking to news agency ANI, SP Ashok KV said, “…One aged person started shouting at the couple in the name of God. He told them things like ‘you should not enter into the temple’. We received a complaint at the Turuvekere police station in which they mentioned seven people, six named and one unknown person.”
Following the incident, the victim, Jagadish, filed a complaint with the Turuvekere Police Station. Authorities have registered a First Information Report (FIR) under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against Narayanappa and several others present at the temple, including Prabha, Kantanna, Amulya, Puttegowda, and Padma.
“We received the complaint and filed an FIR under the SC/ST Act and BNS 190 and 352…. Immediately, we nabbed the person who appeared to be shouting in the video. A peace meeting has been conducted in that village under the joint leadership of the police and the revenue department. We also ensured the temple entry and other rituals of the newlywed couple…,” he added.
Narayanappa has been taken into custody and police were working to trace the remaining accused. The investigation into the matter was underway.
Courtesy : News18
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