Deccan Chronicle
13th Oct. 2000

Anantapur, Oct. 12: Obulesu, an 18-year-old Dalit from Akuledu village near Garladinne, was thrashed by Backward Caste people for pelting a stone at a barking dog.

The victim was beaten up so severely that he became unbalanced."He was the only breadwinner of our family as he used to work for a weaver," Lakshmamma, the victim's mother, told Deccan Chronicle.

"It was the night on October 10. My son had gone out to buy a bulb. He tried to ward off a barking dog by pelting a stone at it. Taking serious objection to this the owners of the dog, belonging to Kuruba community abused and attacked my son," she said.

She said their house was also raided twice.Another group of youngsters, belonging to the same community, attacked him in the street and beat him up with sticks. He suffered head injuries and is getting treated at Praja Vaidyasala in the city.

"A combination of psychological and social pressures worked on the mind of the victim who is unable to speak coherently now," Dr Geyanand said.Dalit Sanghibhava Samiti condemning the attack demanded compensation to the victim.

"There is a steady increase in attacks on the Dalits in the district," Nagalingaiah of the samiti said.In order to spread awareness on the issue a Samajika Samskarana Sadassu (social reform convention) would be held at Akuledu village on October 15, he said and lamented that the SC/ST Atrocities Act was not being effectively implemented in the district.

Compromise is being effected even before the case goes to the court. The accused in such cases should not be spared and they should be punished in order to prevent recurrence of such instances, he said.

B Chittaranjan Das of MRPS stated that all mass organisations should fight against the caste discrimination. Obanna of BC Aikya Vedika called upon BCs to treat the Dalits as their brethren.