Dalits shout slogan against Udupi MLA, engage in verbal duels
Separate dharna before DC office for sand
Udupi, Jan 29: Two separate protests of the District SC/ST Sand Boats Workers Association and Action Committee for Sand led by Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat held in front of the deputy commissioner’s office here on Tuesday ended up in verbal duels between the two groups.
When the overnight protest of the Action Committee for Sand entered the second day, the SC/ST Labourers held another protest as the Mining Minister was supposed to visit the district. During the protest, the dalits shouted slogans against the MLA saying that he has been supporting the sand mafia.
Sangha general secretary Shekar Hejamadi said that the Udupi MLA has been supporting the sand mafia. They would expose his activities before the national and state leaders. They were given constitutional rights and they were asking it, they said.
At this moment, BJP CMC member Girish Anchan brought his car in front of the dalits where they were sitting dharna. But the dalits objected to it and asked the police to remove the car. Then the BJP workers gathered there and objected to shouting slogans against their MLA. This has led to verbal duels between both the groups. However, the police who rushed to the spot pacified the situation.
MLA Raghupathi Bhat said that the district administration has been conspiring against him purposefully and asked the dalits not to fall prey for it. The district administration has been trying to control their protest through conflict. Their protest was a political protest and fighting for the people. The administration should not divide them, he said.
Countering it, SC/ST Labourers Association honorary president Uday Kumar Tallur said that the elected representatives who should have become the voice of the dalits were neglecting them. There were none to raise voice in favour of them. They were not sitting dharna under the direction of the district administration. They were not the slaves of anybody, he said.
“We are sitting in dharna in order to express their grievances before the Mining Minister. The MLA should not speak lightly. He should tender apology from the dalits. One should not oppress their voice. The MLA should speak in the Vidhana Soudha on sand problem instead of speaking in streets. We do not have fear of anybody. We are asking justice only”, he said.
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Tribal woman's severed head found, govt extends suspension of internet services in Malkangiri
Malkangiri (PTI): The Odisha government on Wednesday extended the suspension of internet services for another 24 hours in violence-hit Malkangiri district, while the missing severed head of a tribal woman was recovered from a river bank, police said.
The severed head of 51-year-old Lake Podiami of Rakhelguda village was recovered about 15 km from where her body was found on December 4. The head was found on the Poteru riverbank close to a Kanya Ashram, the police said.
The prohibitory orders clamped in the two villages - Rakhelguda and MV 25 - continued to remain in force, while the government further extended the internet service suspension period by another 24 hours based on the recommendation of the Malkangiri District Collector. The earlier ban was in force till 12 noon on Wednesday, an official said.
The woman's mortal remains were buried at her village on Tuesday amid tight security and in the presence of senior officers. "After recovery of the severed head, the police was examining it and undertaking related investigation to ascertain the circumstances that led to the woman's murder," an officer said.
The woman remained untraced since December 1, and her family members lodged a missing persons case on December 3. Her body was found on December 4, while the head was recovered on Wednesday, police said.
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Violence erupted on Sunday afternoon after the recovery of the woman's headless body. A large number of tribals from Rakhelguda village allegedly attacked MV-26 village, a settlement of Bengalis in the district. Around 200 houses were damaged, some of them set on fire as the tribals went on a rampage at MV-26 village.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested Subha Ranjan Mandal (42) on charge of killing the tribal woman, whose killing led to violence in the tribal dominated district.
Malkangiri District Collector Somesh Kumar Upadhyay told PTI, "The administration has opened a free kitchen at MV-26 village, provided food, blankets and other essentials to the people. Around 300 people who had fled from the village have returned and are staying in a temporary shelter."
