A 19-year-old Dalit youth, Deepu, sustained severe injuries after two caste Hindus allegedly assaulted him for playing a song dedicated to Dr. BR Ambedkar on a milk procurement van in Tumakuru district.

Incident Details:

  • Location & Date:
    The assault occurred on Saturday evening in Gidada Muddanahalli village, Gubbi taluk.
  • Victim & Attack:
    Deepu, a student from Sirivara village, was tasked with milk procurement and was traveling with van driver Narasimha Murthy. The accused, Chandrashekar (a gangman with Indian Railways) and his accomplice Narasimharaju, stopped the van, posing as Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel.
  • Confrontation:
    They questioned Deepu for playing a song on Ambedkar from the serial ‘Mahanayaka’. Upon learning Deepu was from the SC-Madiga (Dalit) community, they forcibly dragged him and the driver out of the van and began assaulting them. Deepu was kicked in his groin, resulting in a severe injury.
  • Medical Attention:
    Deepu was rushed to a government hospital in Gubbi town after a crowd intervened. Doctors provided treatment, and he received nine stitches but is out of danger.

Legal Action:

  • Charges:
    The accused have been booked under Section 307 (attempted murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
  • Investigation:
    The Gubbi police are actively searching for the absconding accused. Police Sub-Inspector Sunil confirmed the registration of the case. SP KV Ashok assured strict action and thorough investigation.

Dalit organizations have rallied for justice, condemning the caste-based assault and demanding stringent action.