MYSURU: The family of a man who was allegedly involved in a murder has been facing social boycott for the last eight monthsin Hommaragalli village in HD Kote taluk.
The family of Doddaiah, an agriculture labourer, has been denied access to water, public health services and employment. The village elders, who are also dalits, imposed the social boycott after Doddaiah’s two nephews who live next door allegedly murdered a man of the same village.
The assailants surrendered to the police soon after, but the village elders were not satisfied. They called a meeting and imposed a fine of `5 lakh on Doddaiah’s family to be paid to the kin of the deceased.
When Doddaiah expressed his inability to pay the huge sum, it was lowered to `3.5 lakh and declared that until it is paid they will be socially boycotted from the village.
Doddaiah’s mother Parvathamma lodged a complaint against the social boycott with HD Kote police. The police tried to broker peace but to no avail.
SP Ravi D Channannanavar said the affected family has not filed a complaint so far. Only, they had orally informed police about the social boycott 15 days ago when a woman in the family died, he said.
“Police had warned the villagers. I have asked the HD Kote circle-inspector to file an FIR and take stringent action against the culprits,” he added.