Seven Dalits burnt alive in Karnataka

It all began at around 7 pm on Saturday, when Krishna Reddy was returning after switching on the village water pump. A group, allegedly led by Sriramapa, attacked him with a knife and fled the scene. Reddy had already breathed his last even before his relatives arrived at the scene. At around 9 pm, about 25 relatives and supporters of Krishna Reddy, under the leadership of Madda Reddy, attacked the house of Sriramappa.

They then bolted the door from outside, stuffed the chimney with dry hay, poured kerosene and petrol into it and set it afire. While the house beganburning inside, the group set the house ablaze from outside too, charring the six inmates to death instantly.

The irate mob did not stop at that, setting ablaze the adjoining houseof Subbamma too, who died on her way to the hospital. Two more houses were also set ablaze, but no one was inside.

Kencharalahalli police have registered a case and have arrested 15 persons in connection with the arson and murders.

Villagers told this reporter that actually, the village had been tense since Friday evening itself, following a minor clash between two youths of the Reddy community and two Harijan youths. Two relatives of Sriramappa — Narashimha and Rama — had gone to neighbouring Yenavalavadi to fetch tender coconuts, when on their way back home, Venkata Reddy and Narayanappa rammed into their vehicle. A verbal altercation ensued between them.

Back at the village, Venkata Reddy and his men attacked them again with wooden clubs. In the clash, seven persons were injured. Both the groups lodged a complaint with the police, due to which police personnel were posted in the village till late afternoon on Saturday.

Sriramappa and his supporters, who had gone to lodge a complaint withthe Chintamani police, came back to the village by bus at around 7 pm. It was then that they confronted Krishna Reddy.

Villagers said the enmity between the Reddy community and the Harijans dates back to two years ago, when Sriramappa’s elder brother Venkataramanappa was murdered in the village, allegedly by Madda Reddy. Krishna Reddy too was one of the accused in the case.

Three months ago, the Chintamani Tehsildar, along with police officers, had convened a peace meeting between the two caste groups. Since then, the tension had eased out considerably before flaring up again on Friday evening.