Two more women arrested, two policemen suspended for assault on Dalit woman at Malpe harbour in Udupi

Udupi Superintendent of Police K. Arun ordered disciplinary proceedings against Head Constable Suresh and Constable Nagraj for dereliction of duty.

Udupi police have arrested two more women in connection with the assault on a Dalit woman after tying her to a tree at Malpe fisheries harbour on March 18.

The police gave the names of the arrested women as Parvati and Leela. Earlier on March 19, police had arrested three persons — Laxmi Bai, Sundar and Shilpa — in connection with the assault in coastal Karnataka.

In addition, Udupi Superintendent of Police K. Arun has suspended two police constables, who were on the beat on the day of the assault at the harbour, for dereliction of duty. Dr. Arun has ordered disciplinary proceedings against Head Constable Suresh and Constable Nagraj for dereliction of duty.

Karnataka State Commission for Women has taken cognisance of the incident. It has sought a detailed report about the action taken by police against the accused.

Soon after the video clip of the assault went viral on March 19, the victim filed a complaint with Malpe police for offences punishable under Sections 189(2), 191(2), 127(2), 74, 115(2), 352, 351(2) and 190 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s) and 3(2)(v-a) of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The victim is from Huvinahadagali in Vijayanagara district. She has been working in Malpe fisheries harbour as a head load worker for the past five years. On March 18 morning, she unloaded fish from Shri Aradhana fishing boat. Then she filled a basket full of ‘Sigadi’ fish and began walking towards her home. Soon, fish sellers, representatives of the boat owner and others allegedly accused her of stealing fish. She was then allegedly tied to a tree and slapped.

Condemning the incident, convenor of Karnataka Adivasi Hakkugala Samanvaya Samiti Shekar Laila said, “It is sad that such a shameful assault occurred in the literate Udupi district. This incident comes after a person was paraded naked in Udupi city in 2005. It makes the heads of coastal Karnataka residents hang in shame. It is unfortunate that people were interested in taking visuals of the assault rather than preventing the assault.’