H. Anjaneya, Minister for Social Welfare, spent the entire Wednesday night at Dhannakkihara, a tribal village in Mudigere taluk.
Mr. Anjaneya also had dinner served by the family members of Ramesh belonging to Hasalaru, a tribal community. The Minister was accompanied by B.N. Chandraiah, Chitradurga MP, and B.B. Ningaiahm Mudigere MLA. Incidentally, Dhannakkihara was the fourth village that the Minister has stayed overnight in this year.
Earlier, tribal people presented a dance and music programme. Motamma and Gayatri Shante Gowda, both MLCs, and others were present.
Mr. Anjanjeya told presspersons that he had memorable experiences during his overnight stay in all the villages. “After staying with tribal people, I have understood the culture and customs being followed by them on different occasions. There are many interesting things in their lifestyle, we should understand and follow,” he said and added that he would visit another tribal hamlet in Uttara Kannada district during next month and stay with a Siddi family.
Enquiry
K.N. Vittal, president of Chikkamagaluru district Budakattu Krishi Karmikara Sangha, brought to the Minister’s attention the death of a man and his daughter, belonging to a tribal community, allegedly due to the torture meted out to them by the police. Thimme Gowda (65), and his daughter Suchitra (27), belonging to Gowdla, a Scheduled Tribe, were found dead on March 30 at Keskemane, near Aldur in Chikkamagaluru taluk.
A day before they were found, the police had taken both of them to the Aldur police station in connection with a property dispute. The duo was allegedly beaten severely in the police station. Humiliated by the police torture, Thimme Gowda allegedly killed his daughter and committed suicide. Mr. Vittal urged the Minister to order a probe into the death of the duo and bring the guilty to the book. Mr. Anjaneya said, he would discuss the issue with the Chief Minister.
