Assault on Koraga Youth, Dalit leaders to hold ‘Hosadu Chalo’

Mangaluru: “Those who are involved in assaulting the Koraga community youth during the engagement ceremony held at Hosadu,  should be detained and strict action should be taken against them.  On April 24, the Koraga community members were having dinner at the Panchayat member Shakuntala’s house prior to the engagement ceremony of her niece. Some members of the Hindu outfits barged into Shankuntala’s house and assaulted the youth for allegedly consuming beef.  We have the right to consume any food but on that day at Shakuntala’s house there was no beef found”, said Dalit leader Ashok Konchadi in a press meet held at Hotel Woodlands here on April 29.

Addressing the mediapersons Ashok said, “It was a preplan by the Hindu outfits and they brought the police along with them. When they were assaulting the youth Shakuntala pleaded them not to assault but the group used foul language against the Koraga community and assaulted them. The members of the Hindu outfits also threatened to set fire to all the 8 houses in the colony if they file a complaint against them. In this regard, a case has been filed in the Gangolli police station but no action has been taken so far. In fact, the Hindu outfits filed a counter case against the Koraga youth for allegedly killing and consuming beef and the Gangolli police immediately arrested the Koraga youth and kept them in police custody for a day.  But those who had assaulted the Koraga youth have not been arrested till date. Why the double standards while giving justice”? he questioned.

Addressing the gathering Raghuveer Suterpete said, “When atrocities were committed on the Koraga Youth the police did not take any action against the Hindu outfits, but when the assaulters filed a false complaint against the Koraga Youth for consuming meat, they immediately arrested the Koraga youth. It was an immoral policing on the Dalits, minorities and backward classes. Those who were involved in the assault on Koraga youth should be arrested and strict action should be taken against them. We are also planning to have the “Hosadu Chalo”.  In Udupi, we have submitted a memorandum to the SP but we did not get any positive response from him. Today we are meeting the IGP and submitting a memorandum so that action will be taken against those who are involved in the assault”.

Raghuveer also said, “In our country, VIPs get safety and security but the weaker section has no security. In the coming days, we will stage a protest in Mavadi”.

Community leaders Nirmal Kumar, Ramesh Kotian, Dinakar, Shekhar Chilimbi, Eshwar T Suterpet, Chandra Kumar and others were also present.