In a historic first, Dalit granted entry into Kallahalli Gullarahatti hamlet in Karnataka: Report
Kudligi: In a notable step towards dismantling entrenched caste discrimination, a Dalit was granted entry into Kallahalli Gullarahatti hamlet in Karnataka’s Kudligi taluk for the first time since Independence, The New Indian Express reported on Tuesday.
The breakthrough came after Kudligi MLA N.T. Srinivas and the taluk administration intervened when villagers recently barred a Dalit official from entering the settlement to conduct a survey. Believing that the presence of Dalits would bring misfortune, villagers had historically denied them access.
Tahasildar V.K. Netravati, informed of the incident, visited the hamlet along with officials and admonished villagers for adhering to superstitious and unconstitutional practices. The settlement, located on the border and predominantly inhabited by around 130 Yadav households, eventually agreed to allow the Dalit officer entry, marking a break from decades-old exclusionary customs.
Srinivas said that following such discriminatory practices, whether knowingly or otherwise, violated constitutional values. “The villagers’ decision to welcome Dalits is a progressive step in terms of development and social justice, as such discriminatory practices are detrimental to society,” TNIE quoted him as saying.
Tahasildar Netravati mentioned that officials held a meeting with residents to explain constitutional provisions and the consequences of persisting with caste-based restrictions. “The villagers agreed to respect and welcome Dalit youths and groups into their community,” Tahasildar said.
Apart from the ban on Dalits, the villagers reportedly force menstruating women to stay in separate huts.
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41 lakh illicit liquor seized, 1.84 lakh arrested in major drive: K'taka Minister tells Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Excise Department has conducted a statewide crackdown on illegal liquor trade over the last two years, resulting in arrests and seizures of alcohol, Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur said on Tuesday.
As many as 1,09,017 people were arrested, and seizures included 13.66 lakh litres of liquor and 27.19 lakh litres of beer, he said in a written reply to a starred question by Harihar BJP MLA B P Harish in the Karnataka Assembly.
The Minister said the enforcement drive covered the financial year 2023–24, 2024–25 up to June, and 2025–26 from July to October, targeting unauthorised liquor manufacture, storage, sale and transportation across the State.
"During this period, statewide enforcement drives resulted in a total of 1,84,570 raids against illegal liquor sales,” Timmapur said.
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He noted that 9,179 non-bailable cases and 91,968 bailable and compoundable cases under Section 15(A) of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, were registered during the same period.
According to him, there have been no reports indicating that students have become addicted to alcohol due to illegal liquor sales.
The sale of alcohol to minors is strictly prohibited under the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, and the department has issued periodic instructions to initiate legal action against violators, with strict enforcement and investigation measures in place, the Minister said.
Excise officials are carrying out regular road and night patrols, collecting intelligence, monitoring habitual offenders and conducting raids to identify illicit distillation units, unauthorised liquor outlets and spurious liquor manufacturing centres, he said, adding the department is also enforcing the law to prevent the production, storage, sale and transport of spurious, non-duty-paid and unauthorised liquor.
Regular patrols are being conducted on national and state highways, with suspicious vehicles being subjected to checks.
At the district level, standing committee meetings are held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners, and joint operations are carried out with the police and forest departments to curb excise-related offences.
The department is also conducting awareness programmes through Gram Sabhas and in schools and colleges to educate the public and students about the physical, mental and social health hazards associated with alcohol addiction and substance abuse, Timmapur added.
