Congress goons attack Dalits

Dalits allege attack by Congress workers

GADAG: Political rivalry came to the fore just after a day of zilla and taluk panchayat polls in Benthur village of Gadag taluk. A group of Congress workers allegedly attacked dalits who are said to be BJP supporters. A complaint has been filed against 10 Congress workers in Gadag rural police station on Sunday.After polling, some hoteliers of the village denied dalits entry to their hotels. On Saturday night, some Congress workers allegedly attacked dalit houses and abused them. To protest the Congress workers’ extortion in the village, on Sunday morning a group of dalits started an agitation in front of the Durgadevi temple in the village. They alleged that Congress leaders who belong to the upper caste have imposed a social boycott on them.

Senior BJP leaders of the district rushed to the village to help their party supporters and asked the police to provide them security. When the incident came to light, Superintendent of Police Ravikumar Naik visited the village and promised that an inquiry would be conducted. Gadag tahsildar DB Konnur also rushed to village and questioned the villagers on the social boycott. SP Ravikumar Naik told Express that there was no social boycott of dalits in the village.

Some miscreants attacked dalits and some minor injuries were reported, he said. An atrocity case has been filed against 10 persons, but the accused have escaped. “I hope they will be arrested within the next 24 hours,” he said. District Minister CC Patil visited the village and requested the villagers to maintain social harmony and peace. The minister promised that the miscreants would be punished.

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