Koppal: Despite strict laws and social campaigns, there seems to be no end to caste discrimination in the country. In a fresh incident, a Dalit family was fined by Upper caste people after their child entered a temple in Karnataka.
The incident of 4-year-old child entering the temple took place in Miyapur village in Koppal district earlier this month. The Upper caste residents of the village imposed Rs 25,000 on Dalit family to perform purification rituals.
Police have now arrested at least five persons including the temple priest after a case was filed at Kushtagi Police station. The accused have been booked under relevant sections of IPC and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act), according to a report in NDTV online.
The Dalit family belongs to Channadasaar caste. According to a villager identified as Chandrashekhar, he was asked to pay the money after his son entered Anjaneya temple on his birthday.
Five persons identified as Kanakappa Poojari, Hanuma Gowda, Gavi Siddappa Myageri, Virupaksha Gowda Myageri and Sharana Gowda have been arrested following a complaint by the Social Welfare Assistant Director Balachandra.
The Dalit community later staged a protest and held a meeting with Tehsildar and Deputy SP over the issue. Meanwhile, Upper caste people from the village claim that the incident took place due to ‘misunderstanding’.