The Kerala police on Sunday arrested two activists of the Dalit Human Rights Organisation (DHRM),an obscure Dalit extremist outfit,in connection with a murder at Varkala in the district last week. Police sources confirmed that the crime was meant to demonstrate the militant nature of the organisation as Shivaprasad was hacked to death on Wednesday while he was on his morning walk. The arrested DHRM leaders were involved in the conspiracy behind the attack while the three-member team which murdered Shivaprasad was still absconding. The probe was still on to ascertain the alleged external links of the DHRM,which,according to the police,has been present in Dalit pockets across the state,particularly in south Kerala. Its clandestine operation remained unbeknown to the law enforcing agencies only because the activists were not thus far reportedly involved in any crimes. However,against the backdrop of the Varkala murder,the police are re-looking into similar mysterious criminal activities or attacks which remain unsolved. The DHRM had been initially floated as a charitable organisation. It had succeeded in raising resources from among the members of the Scheduled Caste and Schedule Tribe colonies where it worked. The outfit had also vanished from some colonies in south Kerala,after mobilising money from the local people. After the Varkala incident,DHRM chairman Selvaraj and another leader,Thathu,have gone into hiding. According to prominent Dalit leader M Geethanandan,the DHRM has been active in SC/ST settlements where broadminded community organisations such as Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha were not present. Extremist elements from certain defunct Dalit outfits might have regrouped under the banner of the DHRM,he said.
