Karnataka: Why did section 144 have to be imposed to get 8 Dalits to enter the temple?

For 28 years, the entry of Dalits into the temple was banned by the upper castes. The Dalits had sought police protection after heavy protests by the upper castes.
Superintendent of Police deployed police force by implementing section 144. Even the regional police were freed from sweating for Dalits to enter the temple.
Due to the fear of deteriorating law and order, 8 Dalits were scoured in a police car and entered the temple. No permission was given to worship, 8 people returned just after seeing.
The people of the Dalit family are still full of fear, neither sleep nor are they able to eat food. Police built a cantonment in the temple, PRV patrols the village.

Karnataka. The entry of Dalits into a Hanuman temple in Kembhavi area of ​​Yadgir district of the state was banned for nearly 28 years. Regarding this right being snatched from Dalits, some Dalit family members approached the regional police to get their rights. The regional police refused to help. When the matter reached the SP of the district, he imposed Section 144 in the district to get the Dalits admitted and their rights. Not only this, in view of the security of the Dalit family, a heavy police force carrying AK-47 was also deployed in the area during the darshan.

According to the regional Dalit people, the Superintendent of Police gave them all the help and security, but instead of providing security to the Dalit families till the date of worship, the regional police were telling them, “You guys cancel the program to visit the temple. The number of other people is more while the number of police is less. We will not be able to give security to you guys.”

However, SP Yadgir had warned, “If anyone breaks the law, strict action will be taken.” After this, the regional police scoured 8 people in a police car and entered the temple. Regional people say that during this time they were only allowed to have darshan. There was no permission to perform programs inside the temple. From the point of view of security, the police has made a camp in the temple, along with this the police is also patrolling the village.

Regional Dalit families say they are scared after visiting the temple. He is neither able to eat properly nor is he able to sleep. People say that they and their families are still being attacked and threatened with life. However, the police are continuously patrolling the area.

What is the whole matter?

According to the local people of Huvinahalli village in Shorapur taluk of Yadgir district of Karnataka, about 40 Dalit families live in this village. About 250 people live in these 40 houses. While there are more than two thousand upper caste people’s houses. Anjaneya Temple (Hanuman Temple) is present at a distance of half a kilometer from this village.

According to local Dalit families, entry of Dalits was not allowed in this temple for almost 28 years. This ban was imposed by the regional leader Sangan Gowda 28 years ago, which is still going on. If there was any program in the Dalit family, they were not allowed to enter the temple, they had to return after worshiping outside the temple. Even the Dalits were prohibited from touching the temple wall and gate.

Dalits sought their rights regarding Jatra Puja

Jyothi, a resident of Huvinahalli village, says, about a week before May 28, all the Dalit families decided to perform Jatra Puja in the temple. When the upper castes came to know about this, they came out in protest. Jyoti tells that, “Being a Hindu, it is my right to worship in the temple. I live in a democratic country. My husband and the family members of other people of the village went to the police and asked for help to get this right due to the opposition of the upper castes for worship.

Jyoti adds, “My husband and the family members of several other families in the village used to leave the house at 7 in the morning to seek help from the police, and return home at 12 in the night. Help was refused from the local police station. Then all went to the SP office. The SP promised full help and protection.

Superintendent of Police Yadgir Dr. C. B. Vedamurthy was determined to get their due after the plea of ​​the Dalit family. On May 27, the Superintendent of Police inspected Huvinahalli village. Talked to people from both sides. However, during this the upper castes first protested in the presence of the police officer. The situation turned tense. In view of the security, Section 144 was imposed in the area. Jyoti said, “The superintendent of police asked all of us to prepare for the program, and also told that the police will give full security.”

Superintendent of Police implemented section 144, deployed heavy security forces

Section 144 was imposed to allow Dalits to enter the temple, perhaps the first such case has come up in the country. The Superintendent of Police deployed 10 sub-inspectors, 150 civil constables and two platoons, one each from the District Armed Reserve and Karnataka State Reserve Police, in this area for security.

On the morning of May 8, the regional police started hesitating.

Regional Dalits said, “Full preparations were made for the program on the morning of May 28. Some Dalit families also wanted to perform the mundan rites of their children, which were also arranged by the people. Along with preparing the dishes at home, the guests were also invited. The preparations for the program were at around 10 o’clock. When the police did not reach the spot, some members of the Dalit family then went to Kembhavi police station.”

It is alleged that, when security was sought from the policemen, the police started intimidating them on the contrary. The police said that we have more people protesting than the police. According to the local people, there was fear among the police personnel as well. The police said that they would not be able to give them security.

Only 8 people got entry in the temple

The matter again reached the Superintendent of Police, after which a police scot reached the village at around 4 pm. According to the regional resident, “The police had taken only 8 people to the temple in their car. During this, police vehicles were scouring in front of the police as well. These 8 people included 6 Dalit women – Lakshmi, Yellamma, Lakshmi Bai, Shyamala, Devamma, Jayashree while 2 men – Yemappa and Bhimappa.”

Locked in the temple, not allowed to worship

Eyewitnesses told that, when he reached the temple, the temple was locked. The police got the lock opened after a lot of effort. Local Dalits told that they wanted to perform Jatra Puja in the temple. Some Dalit families also wanted to perform the mundan rites of their children, but this was not allowed. After seeing 8 people inside the temple, the police dropped them back at their homes.

Tense atmosphere, guests returned hungry

Local Dalits told that on May 28, with the help of the police, the puja and all the programs were likely to be completed. Special arrangements were also made for this. The local Dalits were made to have darshan by the police after entering the temple, but could not get the worship done due to the people’s protest and fear of creating a ruckus.

A family said, “Food was prepared for the guests in the house, preparations for the puja were also done. The atmosphere was so tense. Nobody was happy. Everyone returned without eating food.

Police built a cantonment in the temple, police patrol in the village

According to the local people, a contingent of police has camped in the temple. Due to this initiative of the police, now the people of Dalit community are able to visit the temple on Saturday. Along with this, the police is also continuously patrolling the village.

‘ Danger of mishap, sleep is difficult ‘

A Dalit family said, “Since the entry of the temple, different types of talks are being done about Dalit families. They allege that the upper caste people are waiting for the police to withdraw. After the police withdrew, the families of the visiting families may be in danger. Due to this fear, people are also feeling afraid to come out of the house late at night. People can’t sleep thinking about all this. He is neither able to sleep properly nor is he able to eat.

SP Vedamurthy said, at present, the situation in the village is calm. Villagers can visit the temple at any time. The police will protect them. However, police security is on in the villages to prevent any untoward incident.