A group of Professors form Osmania and Hyderabad Central Universities have demanded the state government to order an inquiry by a sitting Judge of the High Court into the killing of five dalit persons in Laxmipeta in Srikakulam district, bring to book all the culprits– men, women and children above ten years– so that similar incidents could be prevented in the state.
Speaking to the media persons here on Wednesday, Osamnia University Prof. K. Sreenivasulu said that a fact finding team consisting of teachers of the two Universities visited laxmipeta village in Vangara Mandal of Srikakulam district on September 8 and 9, where five dalits were butchered and several dalits were seriously injured in an attack on the dalit colony in the early hours of June 12, 2012.
He said that the fact finding team has found that even three months after the attack, the dalitwada is in the grip of fear and extreme sense of insecurity. It was only heightened by the suspicious visits of the influential Turpu Kapu men from the neighboring villages to laxmipeta, and their suspicious movements only made them fear about the possibility of a more brutal attack. He alleged that the attack on the dalits on June 12 was a well thought-out, well planned and meticulously executed. He also alleged that it was evident from the fact that it was timed at 7 am and it went on for four hours without interruption and with sharp focus on the targets. In the operation, while the local Turpu Kapu men gave the directions, the men from the neighboring villages along with the local women and children above ten years actively executed the plan.
Prof Arun K. Patnaik of HCU alleged that it was clearly an evidence of the shabby work done by the investigating agency and clearly points to the dilation of the case and gross undermining of the gravity of the atrocity. He demanded the government to properly reinvestigate the case and prosecute the responsible women and children.
Dr K Y Ratnam of HCU said that the fact finding committee was shocked to note that the Laxmipeta atrocity happened at a time when the Local CI, ASP, DSP, MRO and the MLA and Minister all belonged to the Dalit Community. He said that though the officials and legislators hailed from Dalit community, they have failed to prevent the incident and initiating the justice mechanism by brining the culprits to book and addressing the grievances of the victims.
Prof Laxminarayana of HCU demanded the state government to distribute 250 acres of agricultural land to dalit people in laxmipeta village. (NSS)