annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Karnataka
evening. He allegedly tied her both hands
and raped her. A case was registered at the
Jagalur police station, and the accused
police constable was arrested. 19
III. Atrocities against the Dalits
The Dalits continued to face atrocities
from the upper castes. They could be
assaulted even for not driving a tractor
slowly in front of the upper caste or for
dancing in local suggi festival.
On 12 May 2004, activists of the Jati
Vinasha Vedike protested in front of
Deputy Commissioner’s office in
Chikmagalur condemning the increasing
trend of atrocities on the Dalits. The Dalit
families in a village near Tarikere were
assaulted for not voting for the upper caste
candidate in the assembly elections. A
pregnant Dalit woman was allegedly
assaulted and the hand of another Dalit
was reportedly broken in the attack. 20
In August 2004, BJP-Bajrang Dal
activists allegedly demolished the house of
a Dalit, Lakshman in Bramhin Keppige
village of Sagar taluk in Shimoga district.
An FIR was filed against Bajrang Dal
activist K H Sudarshan and others, but
none was arrested. 21
IV. Atrocities against the Adivasis
Indigenous peoples living in various
reserve forest areas have been facing threat
of evictions. In June 2004, the forest
department reportedly decided to order the
Indian Survey Department to conduct a
survey into the encroachments at Sirivase,
Bhayravalli, Karagur, Bhagamane and
Belgodu villages in Masagali area and
Sargodu, Darshana, Korala Talagur,
Kundur, Hegudalu, Kove, Chikkarane and
Talavar villages of Sargodu area. 22
About 54 tribal settlements inside the
Nagarahole National Park have also been
facing similar threats of eviction. A
sizeable tribal population has already been
relocated outside the park area. Gathering
of minor forest produce for commercial
purposes and felling of trees have been
totally banned in Protected Areas. 23
The state government reportedly
submitted a proposal to the Centre for
releasing Rs 60 crores to buy private land
and distribute it among those who want to
come out of the revenue enclaves in the
Kudremukh National Park area. On 28
October 2004, the Additional Chief
Secretary and Development
Commissioner, Chiranjeev Singh, claimed
that nearly 200 persons residing inside the
park area have expressed their desire to
shift from the forests. He said 105 persons
in the revenue enclaves within the park
would be given “pattas” and those living in
such enclaves would not be evicted. 24
The announcement came a day after
the killing of two women activists of Kanti
Kari Mahila Sangha in a police encounter
at Bollottu village in Udupi district. Local
bodies such as the Kudremukh Rastriya
Udayana Virodhi Vakoota and a number of
local groups have been resisting the
formation of the park since it would lead to
the large-scale relocation of people. In
1987, the Karnataka forest department
issued a preliminary notification declaring
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