Mangalore: The Dalit people attending a monthly meeting at the police Commissionerate office, relating to SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, expressed their displeasure over the delaying tactics adopted by DK district police in detecting the wherabouts and then arresting of one Avinash of Gandhinagar Pentlandpet in city, who duped a young woman of Karimanelu village in Belthangady taluk, by false assurances of marriage after having sexual relationship with the Dalit young woman leading to her delivery of a child outside wedlock, in the Lady Goschen Government hospital on September 10 last. The monthly public contacts meeting by police on Sunday(November 6) was chaired by SP Labhuram.

Broaching the subject of injustice done to the 19 year old mother, a Dalit woman, the convenor of Belthangady taluk Dlit People’s Rights struggle Committee, L. Shekhar, informed that 2 cases were registered in Venur Police station against the accused Avinash as yet.

The Dalits were dissatisfied with police apathy in this emotional episode involving a Dalit girl, he said.

The SP(Labhuram) replied to the poser that the case is now entrusted to Inspector and ASP Prabhakar and not with entrusted to Inspector and ASP Prabhakar, and not with Venur Police station.

The main accused is absconding, but police have hunted for him by going to Mumbai. The complaint has been made by Dalit family only after 15 days of his disappearance, said ASP Prabhakar.

The meeting discussed several other Matters, relating to land reserved for SCs in Belthangady taluk, and drinking water wells in Dalit colonies at Puttur taluk in Kemminje and Kolnadu.

SP Labhuram explained the latest situation.

Shekhar again complained that Dalit cleaners were paid as low as Rs 500 to Rs1,000 a month, when the monthly salary in GPs was fixed by Government at Rs 4800 per month, for such cleaning workers.

He demanded full salary to be paid to them.

Complaints were also made about delay in banks, inpaying housing subsidies to Dalits and on curbing secret liquor distillation in Badaga kajekaru GP.

The Dalit leaders demanded a meeting by DC Channappa Gowda on atrocities committed against Dalits.