A Dalit youth stepped into the temple, the caste contractors came forward – what happened next shook the entire village!
Case registered against two Vokkaliga community members under SC/ST Act for preventing a Dalit youth from entering a temple in Tumkuru district of Karnataka; peace meeting held amid tension in the village.
Published on: 13 May 2025, 11:39 am
Tumakuru (Karnataka): A case has been registered under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against two people of the Vokkaliga community for preventing a 26-year-old Dalit youth from entering the Rama Anjaneya temple in Tumakuru district of Karnataka. The incident took place on Saturday, following which caste tension spread in the area.
The incident took place in Kavandala village of Dodderi hobli in Madugagiri taluk. According to the police, the video of the argument between the Dalit youth and the people of the dominant community has gone viral on social media.
“A Dalit youth Swaminath filed a complaint on Monday alleging caste discrimination. Based on his complaint, a case has been registered against two people from the Vokkaliga community under the SC/ST Act,” Additional Superintendent of Police C. Gopal said.
Police have identified the accused as Girianna Gowda (42) and Ananth Gowda (32).
According to eyewitnesses, Swaminath was allegedly stopped when he tried to enter the temple for prayers on Saturday evening. The accused are alleged to have told him that people from his community (Scheduled Caste) “traditionally do not enter the temple and should not do so even now.”
According to the complaint, Swaminath responded, “Why should I stay outside when everyone in the village is sitting inside? The Constitution gives equal rights to everyone. If you can go, why can’t I? Don’t you respect the Constitution?”
Following the incident, a peace meeting was also held between the Vokkaliga and Dalit communities in the village on Sunday.
Swaminath had first lodged a complaint at the Badavanahalli police station on Sunday, but under pressure from some villagers, he withdrew the complaint and attended a peace meeting. However, he lodged a complaint again on Monday, following which the police registered a case against the two accused.
Police said the situation was tense but under control.
