Dalit family in Karnataka fined Rs 25,000 after their toddler enters Hanuman temple
Father of boy reluctant to file complaint, but Koppal cops register suo motu case and arrest 5
BENGALURU:
Caste-based discrimination continues to be an everyday reality in India, especially when it comes to places of worship. Recently, a Dalit family in Miyapura village of Koppal district in Karnataka was fined Rs 25,000 after their two-year-old toddler entered a Hanuman temple.
On September 4, the father of the boy had taken him to the temple to seek the deity’s blessings. The father took care not to enter the temple but the boy – in the carefree manner of very young children – ran inside.
Fine for ‘purification’
Infuriated members of the upper caste, at a meeting on September 11, held that the temple had been desecrated by the Dalit boy’s entry and sought Rs 25,000 from the parents for the ‘purification’ rituals.
When the district administration was informed of the incident on September 20, police, revenue and social welfare department officials went to the village to conduct an awareness programme on the social evil of untouchability..
According to Koppal Superintendent of Police T Sridhar, who visited the village, the offending upper caste members were warned of legal action and apologised to the father of the boy. Chandrasekharan, the father of the boy, however, preferred not to lodge a complaint as it could have led to further animosities.
However, the police registered a suo motu case and arrested 5 persons in connection with the incident. According to sources, the atmosphere in the village remains calm.
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