POSTED ON APRIL 9, 2022
Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada police has booked three forest department officials under the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, for allegedly abusing a Dalit man by his caste name on Thursday.
Complainant Aitha Koraga, 55, a resident of Kalmanja village in Belthangady taluk, has stated in a complaint, that range forest officer (RFO) Sandhya had on December 10, 2021, trespassed on his property, and threatened and abused him by his caste name.
Bribe demand alleged
The complainant has alleged that the officer has demanded Rs 5 lakh, which is reportedly to be paid to her seniors. When the complainant refused to pay the amount, the officer threatened and abused him by his caste name, the complainant stated.
Police said that the complainant has 2.2 acres of agricultural land in Kaje village in Kalmanja.
Logs, vehicle seized
On December 9, 2021, chief conservator of forests Prakash Netalkar,, assistant conservator of forests Clifford Lobo and Sandhya had seized logs that the complainant cut from his land.
The forest officials had also seized a vehicle, and a case was booked against Aitha then, police said.
Meanwhile, based on Aitha’s complaint, a case under sections 447 (punishment for criminal trespass), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the IPC and Section 3(1)(s) SC & ST Act 2014, has been booked against three forest officials at Dharmasthala police station.
Courtesy : Times of india
Note: This news piece was originally published in timesofindia.indiatimes.com and used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights .