Brief Details of the Incident:

Kuda Chandrakala (25) ST Valmiki by caste is the 3rd daughter of Kondala Rao and Veeresamma. She has 3 sisters and one brother. She has been living in Paderu along with children and husband for the past 10 years. Her husband Kesava Rao (30 ) is a Taxi driver. 3 years ago they borrowed Rs 3,000/- from one Mr. Chatri Naresh (27) S/o Satyanarayana Singh, a money lender. Naresh developed acquaintance with Chandrakala and became very close in these 3 years. Naresh used to come to the house of Chandrakala in the absence of her husband and enjoy her sexually. Later her husband came to know about their extra-marital relation and warned Naresh and his wife. But there was no change in Naresh and he continued his relation though Chandrakala rejected to do so and Chandrakala had to face harassment even from her husband.

Unable to bear the harassment of her husband, one month prior to this incident, in the presence of caste elders Chandrakala got separated from her husband and took shelter in her sister’s house. Later she rented a room in Bakkalapanupu one week ago and shifted there. Naresh came to know about her room, continued his harassment, scold her and doubt that she was with someone else and hence has taken a separate room. Similarly he used to doubt her whenever her phone was in engage.

On the midnight of 12/05/2015 Chandrakala was in her room. Naresh came inside by climbing the door and quarreled that somebody was there under the cot and that’s why she was unwilling to talk with him on the phone and started beating her with belt and kicked her with leg and she fell down unconsciously. Next day she informed to her family members about the incident and her brother lodged a complaint in Paderu Police Station. Later Chandrakala was sent to King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam for treatment.

Interventions of DSS:

• Conducted Fact Finding

• Followed up the case with DSP and Inspector

List of Documents:

• Fact Finding Report

• FIR

Present Status:

• Accused has been arrested

Brief Details:

One Mr Mudada Thrimurthulu SC Mala by caste of Vakapalli village has given his daughter for marriage to a person of Lachireddypalem in Routhulapudi mandal on 11th April 2015. The marriage was being performed as per Christian tradition in a church at Lachireddypalem. Gubbala Veerababu S/o Ramulu BC Setti Balija by caste and Gorla Veerababu S/o Tathabbai BC Yadava by caste of Vakapalli village have come for the marriage uninvited. While performing the marriage, the pastor has announced the ages of bride and bridegroom. Gubbala Veerababu abused the pastor in the name of caste saying “Vorai Mala Lanja Kodaka, Vayassu tappu chepputunnavra” (You son of a Mala bitch, you are saying the wrong age of the bride) and Gorla Veerababu too abused the pastor in vulgar language by using the name of caste. They created nuisance, threw the chairs, caught hold of the collar of the pastor and beat him up. All kept silent as they feared that the marriage may be stopped. In the meantime one Mr Balaraju came to the rescue of the pastor and he was also beaten by Gubbala Veerababu and Gorla Veerababu. Mudada Sekhar tried to stop, but has to face their hardship. Feared dalits were returning back to Vakapalli in a van, Gubbala Veerababu and Gorla Veerababu chased them in a bike, stopped the van, forcibly asked the women to get down the van, abused them saying “Mala lanjallara mimmalani rape chesthe avadu adduvasthadu”. Later they caught hold of Mudada Appala kondamma SC Mala by caste, sister of Sekhar, laid hand on her breast and pushed her down and fled away on their bike. The dalits returned to the village on the same day, informed about the incident to their caste elders and Mudada Ramana former Sarpanch.

On the next day morning i.e., on 12th April 2015 Mudada Ramana took the dalits to Rongala Nageswara Rao, Sarpanch of Vakapalli and by that time Gogada Venkata Ramana, Gogada Kondala Rao, Budda Donga Babu, Yedla Sanyasi Rao, Gagada Rajulu, Surampudi Konda Babu, Verrigukka Nuka raju, Kuramdasu Accha Rao, Gorla Krishna, Killadi Krishna and others belonging to BCs (Yadavs, Setti Balija and Velmas) were already there. Gogada Venkata Ramana, Gogada Kondala Rao and others said that their children might have beaten the dalits, if so what! They abused the dalits saying “Mala lanja kodakallara mammallani aduguthara!”. The Sarpanch Rongala Nageswara Rao supported the accused Gubbala Veerababu and Gorla Veerababu and all the other have tried to attack the dalits. During this argument, Gubbala Veerababu and Gorla Veerababu sat at the Ambedkar statue and were consuming liquor. Though the dalits brought to the notice of the Sarpanch, he was least bothered. Sensing the danger, dalits returned back to their colony.

The same day evening i.e., on 12th April Gubbala Veerababu and Gorla Veerababu came on the motor bike to the dalit colony abused in the name of caste and uttered “Vosai Mala Lanjallara memmalani ma kulastulu vadukunnare, merantha maa daggara thongunnare, mimalani denguthame”. Pointing at 60 years old Pedda Pentayya of SC caste, they said we will also fuck your wife. They threatened to kill Mudada Sekhar and Entha Bala Raju for opposing them and left away.

Background of the village:

In Vakapalli village there are about 50 SC Mala families, 150 BC Yadavs, 12 Setti Balija and 40 Koppula Velma families. The dalits as well as the BCs are agricultural workers and also take up Podu Cultivation. The dalits are treated as untouchables by all the BC communities. The dalits are forced to live submissively and often the dominant communities ill-treat the dalits irrespective of age, humiliate & harass them in-front of all for no reasons. The youth belonging to the BC communities misbehave with the dalit girls and the dalit youth are silent spectators. Since ages the barbers won’t shave beard or cut hair to the dalits. Similarly the washer-man doesn’t wash the clothes of the dalits. Likewise in the hotel run by the BCs, if the dalits go and ask for a cup of tea/coffee, the tea is given in a separate cup and the dalits have to clean the cup after drinking. Last year i.e., in 2014 Gubbala Veerababu was consuming liquor at the Ambedkar statue, they beat up a family of Nelaparthi Rama Rao for questioning and said “If he is God to you, what is it for us”. When the incident was taken to the notice of the elders, they said that such things are quite common and they shouldn’t make it an issue and they inturn alleged that Nelaparthi Srinivasa Rao s/o Rama Rao has abused the wife of Veera Babu.

On 13th April morning the dalits mustered courage approached Prathipadu PS and lodged a complaint. A case has been registered bearing Cr No- 69/2015 U/s. 354(A), 427, 506, 509 of IPC and Sec 3(1)(i), (x) & (xi) of SC, ST (PoA) Act.

Interventions of DSS:

• Conducted fact finding

• Got the case registered

• Got the police picket posted in the village

• Organized awareness meeting in the village

• Met the DSP- Peddapuram of East Godavari District

List of Documents:

• Fact finding report

• FIR

Present Status:

• Under Investigation

• 2 Accused arrested

• Compensation yet to be paid

Brief Details:

Kollabattula Jakaraiah, Karakati Pavan Kumar, Karakati Yesu, Tanukula Yosebu, Devabattula Paul and others SC mala by caste were playing cricket in the playground of Zilla Parishad High School, Uppuluru, Undi Mandal of West Godavari District on the evening of 17th April 2015. While SCs were playing, one Mr. Oduri Manikanta Kapu by caste of the same village asked them to allow him to play. Kollabattula Jakaraiah and the others said that as they have already played 3 matches it is not possible to join him in the middle. Immediately Oduri Manikanta pulled the wickets and scolded in filthy language saying, ‘Mala lanjakodukullara! This ground and school was given by Yerra Community, You don’t have any right to play cricket here, if at all you want to play, buy an acre of land and play in that’. Later Manikanta and 20 Kapu youth scolded with filthy language and came to attack the dalit youth. Feared dalit youth returned to their homes, informed the same to their parents and elders. The caste elders of the village complained to the ward members Talluri Lukaiah and Penumala John husband of ward member Penumala Subbamma, they in turn complained in the Panchayat office. President and Vice President of the village panchayat informed to the caste elders of the dalits to come at 5pm on 18/4/2015 to the panchayat office.

On 18th April around 5pm Penumala John, Lukaiah, Naredla Anand Rao husband of Naredla Pushpavathi ward member, Kollabattula Jakaraiah and others went to the panchayat office and narrated about the incident to the President and Vice President. After listening to the incident, Yerra Rajesh said that he has been elected as the Vice president for a period of 5years; therefore he wants to be loyal to his Kapu community and started beating Devabattula Paul with coconut branch. Frightened to the incident, dalits questioned them. The Kapus pushed them out and beat them cruelly. While they were fleeing, about 300 Kapus chased them until dalit colony with knives (Veta Kodavallu), glass pieces, blades, stones, iron rods etc., causing injuries to the above mentioned 11 dalits. Yerra Venkata Subbaiah s/o Rama Rao, kapu by caste instigated their youth by uttering, ‘ rape whomever you like and kill whomever you come across’. The terrible attack of Kapus continued for 2 hours and they didn’t allow the press and ambulance to come into dalit colony. During this attack, the Kapus targeted Jakaraiah and damaged his auto. Later the police came into the village and moved the injured to the Government hospital at Bhimavaram. As Kollabattula Jakaraiah was grievously injured, he moved to Government Hospital at Eluru.

The same night i.e., on 18th April the Kapus imposed social boycott and cut the supply of electricity power and water to the dalit colony. Dalits lodged a complaint in Undi Police station on the same night but the complaint was not registered and in the mean time a counter case was registered on the dalits immediately. With the intervention of DSS a police picket was placed in the dalit colony and the case was registered. One Mr Oduri Kittaiah belonging to Kapu community came to the dalit colony on the evening of 20th April and threatened saying“Mala lanja kodukullara! Who put the case on us come out”. In the mean time the police took him into custody.

Socio Economic condition of the village:

Plight of Panchayat Members:

In Uppuluru village there are about 200 SC Mala families, 400 Kapu families apart from the other communities. The SCs have 900 votes approximately, whereas the Kapus have around 1200 votes. The SCs have to depend on the Kapus for everything and they treat dalits very meanly. The whole village is under the grip of Kapus and the gram panchayat is also under their control. In the gram panchayat 9 ward members belonging to Kapu community and only 3 ward members from the dalit community. The dalit ward members are not allowed to sit in the board meeting of panchayat and they don’t even have chairs to sit. The dalit ward members are not involved in decision making and all the decisions are made by Kapus only. The minutes book is sent to the home of the ward members with Rs. 50/- for their signature and are given a fish once in a year.

House Sites:

The government allocated 7 acres of land towards house sites in 1986. The road side plots were assigned to dalits, whereas kapus forcibly sent Dalits to the back side and occupied the front part and built their houses. Out of 7 acres of land Dalits built their houses in 3 acres and the Kapus in 4 acres. Even to this day the house site pattas are on the name of Dalits but under the possession of Kapus.

Situation of Children:

Anganwadi center is being run in rented premises. There is no quality in mid-day meals in the school. In High school also there is caste discrimination and the dalit students are threatened by the Kapus saying that the school is built by Kapus hence it belongs to them. They frighten the students saying that they will fail them in 10th class exams. There are only 2 to 3 persons who are graduates, some up to 10th and many illiterates.

Drinking Water:

There are two water tanks of which one tank of water is filtered for Kapus whereas the other is not filtered and supplied to dalits. Even this water is not supplied every day. The kapus use motors and pump in water, thus denying the dalits. In order to trouble the dalits more water is supplied while the Dalits go out for works. There are very few water taps in the dalit locality and as they pass through the drainages, get mixed with dirty water and the dalits have to fetch the same dirty water. Hence the dalits use the panchayat pond adjacent to their houses. They dug and clean the pond with their own expenses, whereas the panchayat is charging Rs 3000/- per year as tax for using the water.

Previous instances:

Since 3 generations the Kapus have been attacking the dalits and exploiting them by all means. For instance many years ago Devabattula Ashervadam was beaten on the day of his marriage and all the marriage material was damaged. 15 years ago Karakati Dasu has been attacked as his hand touched Oduri Rathaiah Kapu by caste. 10 years ago Devabarikina Prem Babu was beaten brutally by stamping foot on his neck as the buffalo of Kapus which he was rearing went into the fields of Kapus. 2 years ago Badde Bangari was beaten brutally by alleging that she was bringing fire hood from the fields of kapus. One year back Gudise Anand Rao and his son were beaten cruelly on simple cause that they are looking at the kapu’s house. The kapus have erected the flex of Pavan Kalyan the president of Jana Sena in front of the church. Without any reason they have been warning the dalit youth alleging that there are some damages on the flex and who have caused it.

Liquor Belt Shop:

Dalit colony even doesn’t have facility of street lights and roads. Beside the elementary school the kapus run a liquor belt shop and a toddy shop.

Intervention of DSS:

• Conducted fact finding

• Got the case registered

• Organized to the community

• Strengthened the community, victims and witnesses by organizing awareness meeting with the concerned police officials

• Got the flex of Pavan Kalyan removed in front of the Church

• Followed up investigation and got 8 accused arrested

• Got the liquor belt shop and toddy shop removed

List of Documents:

• Fact finding report

• FIR

• Copy of complaint

Present Status:

• 8 persons remanded

• Case is under investigation

Demands:

• Remaining accused to be arrest immediately

• Relief and compensation to be given to the victims immediately

• Permanent solution for the drinking water to be done immediately

• The house sites under the possession of the Kapus be handed over to the dalits immediately

• Basic amenities should be provided to the dalit colony immediately

• Create awareness on SC,ST (PoA) Act to the Kapus

Shanmugam (34) S/o Karuppan belongs to Dalit community, reside at Kangampalayam colony, Nathipalayam Via, Kullampalayam post, Gopichetti palayam Taluk, Erode District of Tamil Nadu. He and his wife wife Amaravathi were worked in Jaganathan Gownder agricultural laborer past two years. Amarawathi and Pragash son of Jaganathan Gounder had a illegal conduct with them. He come to know husband and wife were separated.

On 21.06.2015 Shanmugam met Ms.Nithiya wife of Pragash gounder at bus stand. He went to brief the incident. Since,  she was asked to come at home to discuss this issue.  He went to her home at evening. He had a alchogal so he decided to come back to his home and discuss tomorrow. While he was returning to home. He was stopped by Moorty and other eight caste hindu mob. They were brutally beaten how to you come to our agricultural land. He narrated the incident but all caste Hindus were caste abused in the filthy words and brutally attacked. Caste Hindus filed false case against him. Followed that he lodged complaint against accused under SC/ST PoA Act.