Karnataka: Post ostracism, women's panel chief visits Nayakas
Mysuru: State women’s commission chairperson Ms Nagalakshmi Bai visited Bommalapura village in Gundlupet taluk in Chamarajnagar district, where around 25 families belonging to the Nayaka community, had complained that they were facing social boycott imposed on them by Congress workers of the same community, who were angry with them for reportedly voting for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the recent Gundlupet byelection.
During her visit, the two rival groups engaged in a verbal duel, and she had to remain a mute spectator.
She first visited Chikkabasamma and a few others who were allegedly assaulted, and were being treated at the Gundlupet government hospital. Chikkabasamma cried and fell at her feet appealing to her to free them from the boycott.
Ms Nagalakshmi got them discharged from the hospital and took them to their village.
Later speaking to mediapersons, she said, “I have collected information from both the groups. While one group alleges that they are facing ostracism, the other group denies it. Tension prevails in the village with those allegedly ostracised, living in fear. I have requested the deputy commissioner to give a report and the SP to provide them adequate protection. We will submit the report to the government,” she said.
The victims of the alleged social boycott claimed that people from not just their village but even those from neighbouring places were not giving them jobs.
Nor were people of the village being allowed to buy anything from shops they run.
Besides, adults were being treated like untouchables and their children too were being discriminated against in schools, they said.