Date:21/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/21/stories/2006122118070500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Dalits call for Deputy Commissioner's transfer

Staff Reporter

`Protesters were ill-treated by police'

Demand made for a judicial probe into incident

`Lathi-charge carried out on false charges'

BANGALORE: Dalit organisations have demanded the immediate transfer of Bidar Deputy Commissioner Munish Moudgil and Superintendent of Police Rupa Divaker, who, they allege, ill-treated Dalit activists on December 6 while they were protesting against the desecration of a statue of Dalit leader B.R. Ambedkar on his 50th death anniversary.

Representatives of the Federation of Dalit and Secular Pro-People Associations told presspersons here on Wednesday that the senior police officer had resorted to a lathi-charge without any provocation.

They rejected the Government's move to order an investigation by the Corps of Detectives, and demanded a judicial inquiry instead.

The Dalit groups have filed a complaint with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, saying that the two officials had initiated the lathi-charge against them on false charges, for the sake of vendetta.

If the Government did not concede their demands, they would picket all offices of the deputy commissioners. in the State on January 8.