Belur man alleges torture by police on false charge for relationship with ‘upper caste’ woman

A Dalit girl of Belur city has accused Javagal police in Arsikere taluk of torturing her 22-year-old son after falsely accusing him of stealing bikes as a result of he had a relationship with an ‘higher caste’ woman.

Lolakshi, who runs a canteen in Belur, has complained to senior law enforcement officials towards the Javagal police. She stated her son Chetan was in a relationship with a lady from an ‘higher caste’, and so they bought married. Nonetheless, the couple separated inside a couple of months.

The Javagal police picked him up from his home at Belur on December 2, 2021, informing his mom that he was concerned in bike theft. He was saved within the police station for 3 days earlier than he was remanded in judicial custody. “The police tortured him and later pressured him to pose with a motorbike for photographs, to provide an impression that he stole that bike,” she alleged.

Chetan was launched on bail later.

Addressing a media convention in Hassan on February 3, Chetan accused the police of assaulting him and scolding him referring to his caste and marriage with the woman belonging to ‘higher caste’.

“We suspect that the police is doing this on the behest of members of the family of the woman, who have been against our marriage. The woman’s father had threatened to make sure that I find yourself in jail,” he stated.

Nagaraj Hettur, State organising secretary of Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (Bheemavada); Sathish, district president of Samata Sainik Dal; and Mari Joseph, convener of Dalit Vimochana Manava Hakkugala Vedike, who have been within the media convention, need the Superintendent of Police to droop the police officers of Javagal and probe the difficulty.

Police clarify arrest

Extra Superintendent of Police B.N. Nandini advised The Hindu that the officer stated the accused was arrested as a result of stolen autos have been recovered from him. “The police haven’t slapped false fees on him. There was no different purpose to arrest him,” she stated.