Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Sep 1: Deputy commissioner of police, Dr K V Jagadish, has warned that steps would be taken against people who are found to be filing fake complaints under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act or abetting such complaints. He was speaking after chairing a meeting to discuss grievances of these communities held at the auditorium in the office of the police commissioner in the city on Sunday August 31.

In the meeting, a person named Narayana Punchame felt that the members of these communities, instead of deriving benefit out of the above act formulated for them, have been registering cases against one another and making false accusations. He called upon the members of these communities to stop targetting their own people.

Jagadish observed that SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act had provided best opportunity to the members of these communities to get legal protection in case of injustice. He however, cautioned against misusing the provisions of the act, warning that false complainants will face police cases. He advised people to use the act with social concern instead of for serving personal ends. Several participants pointed out that false cases are being hoisted against some members of the communities to counter the complaints already filed by these people against others.

A person named Shashikanth alleged that taluk convener of Dalit Mahila Okkoota, Ramya, had filed case against him for resisting Ramya's attempt at supporting a woman named Fatima to build a house in the land belonging to him. He also produced documents to prove that he owns the land in question. Relating to the case, deputy police commissioner, N Vishnuvardhan, ordered the complaint to be investigated by September 15.

A dalit leader, Sadashiv Urwa, said that some dalit leaders were misusing the provision of claiming compensation of Rs 25,000 for victims of atrocity cases.