Chamarajanagar: According to reports by Karnataka police, an FIR has been filed against a man for cleaning the water tank with cow urine after a Dalit woman drank water from it.
The incident took place in Chamarajanagar district following which Mahadevappa, a resident of Heggothara village, was booked. The police action followed a complaint lodged by Giriyappa, a Dalit from the same village.
On November 19, the Dalit woman had come to the village to take part in a marriage ceremony. She drank water from the village water tank.
While she was drinking water, the accused had tried to stop her saying it was the Brahmins' lane. Later, the tank was purified by him and other villagers by pouring cow urine.
"On Friday, there was a wedding in the Dalit community at the village. The woman came to attend a wedding. She drank water from the public tank and hurriedly got into the bus. Soon after, the villagers abused the woman and decided to purify the tank," a villager said.
Dalits of the village complained about this matter to Tehsildar Basavaraju. The authorities immediately rushed to the spot and allowed all Dalits to drink water from the same water tank and warned villagers not to practice untouchability and discrimination.
"The social welfare department officers are trying to trace the woman to record her statement and file a complaint. Elders of the Dalit community have already registered an FIR at the Chamarajanagara rural police station," Tehsildar Basavaraju said.
"The eyewitnesses confirmed that the purification was done. Soon after we find the woman, we will make her file a police complaint and stringent action will be initiated against the guilty," he added.
The authorities also held peace meetings with leaders of all communities. District in-charge minister V. Somanna had sought a report regarding the incident over the issue.
-IANS Inputs