The Hindu : Dalit couple fined for entering temple

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 01, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Dalit couple fined for entering temple

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD May 31. A young Dalit couple was harassed and fined Rs. 10,000 for entering a temple in Kanmakur village of Narva mandal in Mahabubnagar district last Sunday.

The Dalit, Chinna Anjaneyulu and his wife earned the wrath of the upper caste Reddys in the village when they went to worship at the temple immediately after their marriage.

They were summoned by Govardhan Reddy and other landlords to a "panchayat'' and imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000, failing which they were threatened with social boycott.

Police refused to book any case against the landlords, the Kulavivaksha Vyathireka Porata Sangham ( Struggle Committee against Caste Discrimination) complained to the Home Minister, T. Devender Goud, on Saturday.

The Sangham leaders -- P. Ramaiah and John Wesley -- also alleged that one Boddanna, also a Dalit, was threatened with dire consequences by the landlords on the pretext that he encouraged the couple to enter the temple. They also cited other instances of caste discrimination in the village and appealed to the Home Minister to provide protection to Dalits.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Dalit couple fined for entering temple

Mega project to come IICT way

TDP flays Cong. remarks on Mahanadu

Transport Dept. moves to check graft

Mercury shoots up to 49° in Vijayawada