UDUPI: Members of the Koraga Abhivruddhi Sanghagala Okkuta, Karnataka-Kerala, on Thursday staged a dharna in front of the office of the deputy commissioner, protesting against the failure and apathy of the district administration in preventing Ajalu, an ill-treatment against Koraga community, prohibited by the Karnataka State Ajalu System (prohibition) Act, 2000.
Ajalu practice includes treating members of the Koraga community without human dignity.
Susheela Koraga Nada said that in spite of the Koraga Abhivruddhi Sangha in Belman submitting a memorandum to the Udupi tahsildar against the possible practice of Ajalu in the Nemothsava in Baakimaru Gadde of Inna village, the district failed to prevent it.
Ajalu was practised in the Nemothsva held from January 17-18. The tahsildar could only instruct the Padubidri police to stop the practice but the police were apathetic to the issue. In the memorandum submitted to the DC, they demanded action against the police and the suspension of the sub-inspector of Pabubidri police station and Inna gram panchayat PDO for failing to probihit Ajalu in the village.
“Though the tahsildar held a meeting to prohibit Ajalu in Inna village; the PDO or police failed to prevent the practice,” alleged Babu Pangala, a Koraga activist. Ashok Shetty of Samagra Grameena Ashrama, an NGO, were present.