Bengaluru: Upper caste leaders in north Karnataka’s Yadgir district ( 500km away from Bengaluru) allegedly imposed a social boycott on approximately 250 Dalits (50 families) after parents of a minor Dalit girl denied to withdrawal charges of sexual assault against a 23-year-old upper caste man. Reportedly, the man was in relationship with the girl and sexually assaulted her on the pretext of marriage.
When the girl was five months pregnant in August, she informed her parents about it. The parents then asked the 23-year-old man to stick to his words. However, the man denied to accept the relationship, following which the parents filed a complaint with the police under Pocso Act.
After the complaint was filed, the upper caste members of the village asked the parents to settle the matter with negotiations. However, parents denied their request and proceeded with the case.
According to a report by The Times of India, the accused was arrested and remanded in judicial custody on August 13. Angered by the arrest, the upper caste villagers boycotted the Dalits residing in the village's two colonies. These people were reportedly denied access to grocery and stationery shops, temples, salons and public spaces.
The publication further reported that Yadgir SP Sangeetha, who is currently campaign to broker peace has denied any evidence of the situation in the village. Sangeetha urged villagers to not get involved in practices such as boycott and villagers have agreed to SP's advise.