​The Shorapur police in Yadgir district, in Karnataka, have booked 17 individuals after a Dalit family was intercepted, physically assaulted, caste-abused, and threatened with death, on August 1 in Shakhapur (SH) village.

The alleged incident followed a dispute involving the digging of a burial pit.

According to the FIR, on July 25, a woman from the Valmiki community passed away. The complainant, Devappa Shivappa Talwar—a Dalit originally from Kadyapur (Kalaburagi district) now residing in Shakhapur (SH) — was summoned along with his relative to dig a burial pit. But, they refused to dig a pit due to illness.

Following the refusal, the accused individuals confronted Devappa at a local borewell on August 1 when he had gone to draw water, according to the FIR.

Later that same day, Devappa, his wife Lalita, and relatives Bhimavva, Siddamma, and Gangamma were allegedly intercepted by the accused on their way to work in the fields. The group was allegedly assaulted with sticks, kicked, insulted using abusive words, and threatened with death if they continued to refuse digging burial pits, according to the FIR.

All injured victims received medical treatment at the taluk hospital. Later, they lodged a police complaint.

​Following Devappa’s complaint, the Shorapur police registered a case under Sections 189(2), 191(2), 191(3), 115(2), 118(1), 74, 352, and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita (BNS)-2023, and Sections 3(1)(5), 3(1)(2), and 3(2)(v-a) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Caste (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

According to the FIR, the accused individual are

1. Siddappa Shivaraya Devadurga
2. Nagappa Mariyappa Masali
3. Malappa Mudukappa Pujari
4. Huligeppagouda Yallayyagouda Police Patil
5. Mariyappa Basanagouda Maligouda
6. Gangappa Narayanappa Policegouda
7. Bheemanagouda Ninganagouda Malipatil
8. Mallesh Ningappa Maligoudar
9. Nagappa Huligeppa Policegoudar
10. Bheemanna Ramangouda Police Patil
11. Hanumanth Bheemanna Bhairamaddi
12. Mounesh Bhimappa
13. Bhimanna Bhimanna Paner
14. Mallappa Ramanagouda Police Patil
15. Devamma Hanumanth Malipatil
16. Bhimavva Mareppa Malipatil
17. Parashuram Eshappa Sugur

Nagappa belongs to the Ediga community and Malappa to the Kuruba community. All others belong to the Valmiki community.

Superintendent of Police Pruthvik Shankar informed that an investigation is underway.

Police personnel have been deployed in Shakhapur (SH) village to maintain law and order, and ensure protection for local Dalits.

​The Deputy Superintendent of Police (Shorapur) and officials from the Social Welfare Department visited the village.