[Reader-list] Dalit Activists Attacked

[Asit Das]

 Dalit Activists Attacked

By Express News Service - KASARGOD

Published: 07th April 2014 10:24 AM

Last Updated: 07th April 2014 10:24 AM

Nine Dalit activists, including three women, were admitted to Kanhangad
District Hospital after they were allegedly attacked by CPM workers at
Nandankuzhi in Madikai on Sunday.

The injured have been identified as Binu Palankal, 30; Rameshan Arinkal,
27; Manikuttan Kallanchira, 27; Binu Karivedakam, 27; Usha Kallanchira, 26;
Priya Kodumkuzhi, 30; Reshma Karivedakam, 18; Rajeev, 30;  and Sukumaran
Palankal, 30.

The incident took place around 11 am when a group of people, allegedly CPM
workers, unleashed attack on Dalit Service Society (DSS) activists who were
campaigning for their candidate Gothramooppan Nellikkadan Kannan at
Nandankuzhi.

"People who believe in democracy must wake up to realise that we no more
enjoy our rights enshrined in the Constitution.

"Dalits are living oppressed in the so-called CPM party villages. It's the
politics of the CPM and people must vote without fear or favour to have a
democratic secular government," said O K Prabhakaran, district president of
the DSS.

This is the third attack against Dalits in the past seven days.

Earlier, a woman was allegedly attacked by a police officer on duty and DSS
activists were restrained from seeking votes for their candidate by an
unknown gang.

When contacted, ADM O Muhammed Aslam said: "Strict instructions have been
given tothe police for taking immediate action against the culprits. The
District Collector will initiate action against the police officers if they
fail to do so."

Police, when contacted, said: "CPM workers are behind this attack and two
people, named Ananthan and Subhash, were identified by the petitioners.

"They threatened the Dalits from visiting the colonies seeking votes and
also beat them up."

A case has been registered against the culprits under Sections 364, 323,
324, 147, 143, 148, 341, 323, 506 and 149 of the IPC.