Dalit forum demands probe into death

MANGALORE: The district unit of Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (Ambedkarvada) has demanded a thorough inquiry into the death of Rajappa who was working at the farm of BJP leader and Karnataka Coastal Development Authority chairman B Nagaraj Shetty's wife Sadhana N Shetty at Panjikallu village in Bantwal taluk.

DSS (A) district chief convener S P Ananda and Rajappa's wife Ganga Bai told reporters here on Thursday that the police have yet to initiate an inquiry into the incident even after six months. Rajappa was found dead at the farm on October 2, 2008, he said and added that police have recorded in the first information report (FIR) that the death occurred under mysterious circumstances.

Ganga Bai said though her husband worked with Ganesh Shipping Company owned by Shetty, she did not receive any statutory compensation. Rajappa worked for 13 years at the shipping company and later Shetty shifted him to the farm in Bantwal and did not pay proper salaries.

After Rajappa's death, Shetty came to her house in Lingappayya Kadu near Mulky and gave a cheque of Rs 50,000 as temporary relief. He had also promised to give more money, assistance to repair the house that was in a dilapidated stage and bear the expenses of the education of her daughter Rajeshwari studying in SSLC. But Shetty did not keep his promise and threatened us when we approached him several times, she alleged.

Ananda said Rajappa was subjected to atrocities by Shetty and Shivaram Bhandary who was the accountant at the farm and added that they would approach the superintendent of police and State Human Rights Commission in this connection.