Young Dalit writer from Karnataka assaulted for ‘anti-Hindu’ writings

Amid continuing countrywide protests by writers over “rising intolerance”, a young Dalit activist and writer was allegedly attacked by unidentified men whom he suspects to be Rightwing activists, for his “anti-Hindu” writings at Davangere in central Karnataka.

The incident has occurred in the light of MM Kalburgi, a Kannada rationalist’s murder and the protests by his followers and fellow writers against the rising intolerance in the country.

“We have registered a case on a complaint Huchangi Prasad filed on Thursday against a group of 10 people who attacked him on Wednesday for writing the book against the caste system and threatened to cut off his fingers he continued to criticise Hinduism”, Davangere’s Superintendent of Police M.B. Borolingaiha told IANS. He claimed that he would take Prasad to the hospital but instead took him to an isolated area where the author was attacked by a group of men. They took me to a place and started threatening and assaulting me for writing against Hinduism and caste system.

Prasad managed to escape by running into the woods nearby.

Prasad then lodged a complaint with the police saying that the gang, who were clearly members of a few right wing outfit, pushed him around and smeared “kumkum” on his face.

“They (the attackers) said I was born a Dalit because of the sins I had committed in my previous life”, he added.

Asked whether the men belonged to any particular group, Prasad said, “From their words it was nearly clear that they are from a few Rightwing group but I’m not completely sure”.

Though police did not detain or arrest anyone so far, a probe team has been set up to look out for the suspects and investigate the case registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. He later returned to his hostel and filed a police complaint.

“We have identified roadside cameras and will be studying the footage around the time of the incident”.