REGISTERING PROTEST: Members of the Federation of Dalit Organisations burning an effigy of the Maharashtra Government in front of the Deputy Commissioners office in Gulbarga on Friday.

GULBARGA: The protest organised by the Federation of Dalit Organisations in Gulbarga on Friday against the killing of four Dalits, including two women, in Khairlanji village of Maharashtra, was marred by sporadic incidents of violence and intimidation by the processionists.

Police said protesting Dalit youths threw stones at a North Eastern Road Transport Corporation bus, a car, several autorickshaws and a police jeep in different parts of the city.

The federation had announced that a procession would be taken out from Jagat circle to the Deputy Commissioner's office and a memorandum addressed to the Governor of Maharashtra would be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner.

However, some youth allegedly forced shop owners to down their shutters by throwing stones at the shops. Public transport system, including the NEKRTC and autorickshaws, were off the roads owing to their alleged intimidation.

Traffic on the Gulbarga-Sedam inter-State highway was disrupted for more than three hours owing to the tension prevailing near the RTO Cross and Basaveshwar Teaching and General Hospital with some youth throwing stones at passing vehicles.

Police personnel had a tough time in regulating the procession and for more than one hour the traffic on the main road from Gulbarga Railway Station to Super Market passing through Jagat Circle was diverted.

The procession was by all means one of the biggest in the recent times. The protesters burnt an effigy of the Maharashtra Government for its failure to arrest the culprits and also making a subtle attempt to close the case.

Addressing the protesters, chairman of the Federation of the Dalit Organisations Shivaram Moga and senior Dalit leader and former GDA Chairman Vittal Doddamani said the Khairlanji incident was a reminder of the caste prejudice prevailing in the country.

The Khairlanji incident was not an isolated case and such inhuman incidents were taking place throughout the country, they alleged.

Mr. Moga said the recent incident in Kohalgaon in Maharashtra where the Dalits were allegedly beaten up for opposing the construction of a road on the land meant for Buddha Vihar should be an eye opener to all.

Organising secretary of the RPI A.B. Hosmani, BSP district secretary Nimbalkar and others participated in the procession.

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