Hassan: It was a happy occasion for the Dalits of Sigaranahalli in Holenarsipur taluk, who have been demanding entry into a temple and a community hall in the village since 2015.

One of their demands was fulfilled on Tuesday evening as they set their foot into the community hall in the village after 14 years, in presence of senior police officers after the name board was obliterated.

A community hall constructed using Lok Sabha member and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda’s Local Area Development Fund, was named ‘Vokkaliga Samudaya Bhavan’ and hence the Dalits were not allowed to enter it.

However, on Tuesday, when the name board was coated with white paint, the Vokkaligas did not protest.

The local Dalits say that when the community hall was constructed in 2001, for the first few months it was open to all.

But, things changed in December that year when two Vokkaliga boys lunched with the Dalits after a programme at the hall.

The Vokkaliga community members penalised the boys for having food with the Dalits and subsequently the Dalits were barred from entering the hall.

“It was soon called the ‘Vokkaliga Samudaya Bhavan,” said a local Dalit.

The Dalits raised this issue again, after a gap of 14 years, in September 2015. They also demanded entry into Basaveshwara temple in the village.