Bengaluru: In a disturbing incident, Khatakchincholi police have booked 73 individuals under the SC/ST Atrocity Prevention Act and additional charges for an alleged assault on a Dalit colony in Chalakapur village, Bhalki Taluk, Bidar district. The case was registered on November 4, following a complaint by Dhanraj Doddamani, a resident of the attacked community.
According to Doddamani’s complaint, a group of upper-caste individuals allegedly entered the Dalit settlement with weapons on the evening of November 3. The attackers reportedly verbally abused residents with caste-based slurs, and physically assaulted men, women, and children. Witnesses reported that the group entered the home of Shivraj Dharnayak, causing further violence against his family and threatening to isolate them from the village. According to the complaint, the attackers warned the community they would be banned from accessing local shops and other amenities.
The police promptly filed charges against 73 individuals, identified by Doddamani, including prominent residents Kailash Masaldar, Rajkumar Masaldar, and other villagers involved in organizing the Hanuman Jatra Mahotsav. The police registered the case under crime number 85/2024, covering a range of criminal charges, including physical assault and caste-based harassment, under multiple sections, including sections 118 (1), 189(2), and others. Specific SC/ST Act sections were also invoked, including sections 3(1)(sR), 3(1)(S), and 3(2)(v-a) of the SC/ST Act-1989.
As a result of the violent incident, Superintendent of Police (SP) Pradeep Gunti has suspended the Khatakchincholi police station’s PSI as a disciplinary measure and has ensured a counter-case was filed, given the complexity of complaints from both sides. SP Gunti visited Chalakapur on the night of November 3 to control the situation and to assure the community of their safety.
This violent outbreak is reportedly connected to tensions surrounding the recent Hanuman Jatra Mahotsav procession in Chalakapur. Authorities are working to resolve the conflict and to prevent further escalations in the area. The Khatakchincholi police have taken 15 individuals into custody, while investigations are ongoing to bring the remaining accused to justice.
