Dalits reject DCs appeal

HUBLI: Deputy Commissioner Darpan Jain has said that district administration would ensure safety and livelihood to the Dalits of Nayakanur village of Navalgund taluk. “We will also take serious action against those responsible for social boycott of dalits in the village,” he added.Jain, who visited the village on Wednesday, held a meeting with victims. He tried to convince them not to move away from the village fearing attacks by the upper communities. However, dalits made it clear to the DC that they don’t have any faith in the administration. They pointed out that they experienced the social boycott in the village earlier a few years ago. “The people from the upper castes, who have been arrested recently, will threaten again even while in police custody. We decided that better to leave the village as early as possible,” they said.Jain told them that it was not a big issue for the administration to rehabilitate them in some other village of the same other taluk in district. But their families were living in the same village for generations and the village belonged to them. “Why can’t you drop the idea of leaving the village? The administration is ready to give all kinds of help,” he told the dalits.  SP R Dileep also assured that the police have arrested the accused who imposed social boycott on dalits. He told them they will ensure that the accused would be proved guilty and punished accordingly. “The Police Department is ready to provide security to every dalit in the village. There is no reason for you to leave the village,” he said. However, all the efforts of the district officials proved futile as dalits refused to their appeal not to leave the village. During the meeting, some dalits even fell on the feet of officials’ several times begging them to allow them to lead their lives. They told the DC and SP that they would migrate to another place within a week. As a last effort, the officials asked the dalits to think again if there is any possibility of changing their decision. DySP AB Basari and Navalgund tahasildar Vinan Palankar were present.