Dalit activists question the functioning of DCRE stations, warn police, prepare for agitation
Mangaluru: Despite the establishment of separate Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE) stations in the district to investigate cases of atrocities on Scheduled Castes and Tribes, the victims are not getting justice. Dissatisfied with this situation, Dalit activists of Dakshina Kannada have expressed their resentment.
Dalit activists put forth their grievances before police officials at a meeting held at the Mangaluru Police Commissioner’s Office on Sunday. The meeting focused on the grievances of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities and discussed the functioning of the Mangaluru City Police Commissionerate and Dakshina Kannada District Police. The meeting was chaired by DCP (Law and Order) Mithun HN and Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar S. Bhoomaraddi.
During the meeting, Jagdish Pandeshwar mentioned a case in which a Dalit woman was sent obscene calls and messages via WhatsApp by a man living abroad. The woman lodged a complaint, but no action was taken. The case was sent to the DCRE police station, but the accused was not arrested. It is alleged that the station in-charge also gave irresponsible answers.
The activists warned that if no concrete action is taken on such cases till the next meeting, they will be forced to agitate. They also demanded to make public the complete record of cases of atrocities registered in the DCRE police station.
On this, DCP Mithun said that since the DCRE does not come under the jurisdiction of the City Police Commissioner at present, a letter will be sent to the DG of DCRE regarding the complaints of the activists.
Other demands of Dalit leaders
In the meeting, Dalit leader SP Anand said that the government should restore the old process of selection of self-employment beneficiaries for the Scheduled Caste-Tribe community. Earlier this selection was done by a committee headed by the District Deputy Commissioner, but for the last 15 years this work is in the hands of local MLAs. Due to this, most of the benefits go to the influential class and people close to the MLAs, while the real needy are deprived.
Rajan Chaudhary
Courtesy : Hindi News