http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/oct25/stnal.htm
GULBARGA, Oct 24 (DHNS)

Charging that the district administration had failed to protect the Dalits in Neelur village in Afzalpur taluk in the district, the Karnataka Dalit Sangarsh Samithi (Mavalli Shankar) on Monday staged a dharna in front of the Divisional Commissioner`s office in the City and demanded the transfer of the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police.

KDSS District Convenor Dattatraya Ikkalki, who addressed the protestors who had come from all over the district, said, even when the incident of burning seven Dalits alive in Kambalpalli in Kolar district was still fresh in the minds of the people, six Dalits in Neelur village were attacked by the caste Hindus seriously injuring them. This incident has made the ''whole of mankind bend their heads in shame,`` he added.

Even though more than 50 years had passed after the country attained independence, Dalits were being denied access to temples, hotels, community wells and such other places even today, he said adding, this was against social justice.

Caste Hindus in Neelur village had, without any provocation, entered the houses of Dalits in the village and attacked them, injuring them seriously, he said. This incident had hurt all those who believed in freedom, equality, and communal harmony, he added. The main reason for the attack was that progressive Dalit youths in the village had aspired for equality, he said.

Even though ill feeling was simmering between the Caste Hindus and the Dalits in the village since last two months, the district administration had failed to identify it, he said adding, the district administration had watched the attack with ''closed eyes.`` He charged that the superintendent of police tried to paint the attack on the Dalits as a fight between two groups, which was an anti-Dalit stance.

The government, which stated that the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of respective districts would be held responsible for the attacks on Dalits, was now only doing nothing regarding this, he said.

Thereby, the samithi has demanded the transfer of Gulbarga deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police, providing security to Neelur Dalits and a compensation of Rs 50,000 each to those injured in the attack, stringent action against the attackers and providing basic services like provision shop, ration shop, flour mill etc, for the Dalits in Neelur.

Later, they submitted a memorandum addressed to the chief minister through the divisional commissioner.