Kalaburgi: In a sheer case of apathy, a man belonging to the upper caste poisoned a well water being used by the Dalits in a bid to stop them from drawing water from the only well meant for their use in the area.

According to a TOI report, the well is situated on a land leased to Gollalappagouda Kallappagouda Kukanur in Channur village of Kalaburgi nearly four years ago. Kallappagouda who had earlier too tried to prevent the Dalits from using this well water had allegedly poured endosulfan into the village well.

Though the village has seven wells, the Dalits are only allowed to venture near this particular well which is located on a farm land owned by a Dalit. The well is fixed with a pumpset that supplies water to the Dalits’ Colony.

As there was no supply from the pumpset since August 29 one of the Dalits had ventred to the the well to draw water on August 31. However he sensed something foul when the water smelt different and informed the cops.

On testing it was revealed that the well water was contaminated with endosulfan. The police deployed people to empty and clean up the well twice in three days. Given the sitaution, the district SP tried to persuade the villagers to allow Dalits to draw water from the other well but they refused to budge.

Kallappagouda who had made his contempt towards Dalits obvious on several occasions earlier even threatening to kill them has been booked for attempted murder.