Belthangadi: The Civil Rights Action Committee has strongly condemned the physical assault by the Deputy Range Forest Officer on a labourer from Puduvettu and demanded his suspension. They have warned of a large scale protest at Belthangady on October 3, if the authorities concerned failed to yield to their demands.
The members of the committee during a press conference on September 30, alleged that DRFO Keerthan Shetty assaulted a labourer Kamal Das, a resident of Vadakkal of Puduvettu village. The forest official kept the innocent man in solitary confinement and launched a physical assault damaging his private parts, they alleged. He even threatened of dire consequences, if the poor labourer failed to admit to the crime, which he did not commit, they stated.
The victim’s family has filed a complaint with the Dharmasthala Police Station. Based on the complaint, they sought action against the official and his senior Subbaiah for supporting the wrongdoer. They demanded that the forest department bear the hospital charges and stop framing false cases against innocent people in Puduvettu limits.
They had requested Forest Minister Ramanath Rai and local MLA Vasant Bangera to initiate action against Keerthan Shetty but the response has been lukewarm, they said. The minister has accused the agitators of conniving with the timber lobby, which is far from truth, they stated.
If Keerthan is not suspended, all like-minded people leaving aside their party, caste and other affiliations will launch a massive protest on October 3, they warned.
“The behaviour of the officer resembles that of underworld dons. He has even threatened the family, if they divulged the details of assault, said BJP’s local unit President Rajnath Gowda extending his support to the victim.
There is no case against Kamal Das, said APMC member Gafoor and the brutal behaviour of the forest official is a blot in the functioning of the local administration, he added.
Mysore Division Convenor of Karnataka Dalita Sangharsha Samiti (Ambedkar wing) Chandu L, Karnataka Syro Malabar Catholic Association President Xavier Pallei, Karnataka State Malayali Christian Taluk President Ajay announced support from their respective organisations.
Puduvettu Gram Panchayat member Roy Joseph, Kamal Das’ sister-in-law Sindhu too were present at the press meet.
“My son, who did nothing wrong is now lying in the hospital”, outraged mother of Kamal Das, Mariamma said demanding serious action against the official, who threatened of framing false charges against the family too.
