Mangaluru — The Karnataka Dalit Horata Samiti has strongly criticised the recent assault on YouTubers and a private Kannada TV channel reporter in Dharmasthala. Speaking to the media on Saturday, district leader S P Anand said that although Dakshina Kannada police have arrested one suspect, nearly 50–60 people were allegedly involved in the violence.
“All those responsible should be apprehended and charged under stringent laws,” he demanded. Anand noted that one of the injured, cameraman Abhishek, belongs to the Dalit community. He insisted that the FIR also include provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, alongside robbery charges.
The Samiti announced plans to submit a petition to the Dakshina Kannada superintendent of police and the state home minister. According to Anand, the attackers accused the victims of spreading false information about Dharmasthala’s sacred site. “We too respect Dharmasthala and have no opposition to it. Our demand is that police identify those behind the attack,” he said.
He welcomed the Special Investigation Team’s ongoing probe into the alleged mass burial case in Dharmasthala, urging that it uncover the complete truth. “This is an assault on the democratic process aimed at revealing facts,” Anand added.
Samiti leader Anil Kumar alleged the incident was a deliberate plot to suppress information. “Every offender must face justice. The law is equal for all in this nation,” he stated firmly.