Karnataka: Dalit family allegedly attacked by Bajrang Dal activists over beef rumours

Dalit community members protesting in Gujarat against incident of violence against them.

Members of a Dalit family were allegedly attacked by Bajrang Dal activists in Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka on July 17 following rumours that they had eaten beef. According to a report in NDTV, Karnataka Communal Harmony Forum filed an FIR which stated that around 40-50 people attacked the family, seriously injuring three.

A total of seven people have been arrested by the police and they have been charged under scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act. The incident has surfaced at a time when the Dalit community has come out on streets and is protesting against the atrocities they have to face. The protests were triggered after a video of four Dalit youth being mercilessly beaten by ‘Gau Rakshaks’ in Gujarat’s Una went viral on the Internet. On the other hand, members of the community in Uttar Pradesh protested against derogatory comment made by BJP leader against BSP supremo Mayawati. Parliament, too, debated the atrocities against Dalits calling upon the government to take strict action in such cases.

Mohammad Akhlaq of Dadri, Uttar Pradesh was also attacked last year over beef rumours and he lost his life in the incident giving rise to the ‘intolerance debate’ in the country.