BENGALURU: Amid the protest by writers over growing intolerence in the country a young Dalit writer and activist was allegedly assaulted by unidentified youth for his “anti-Barhamanism” writings at Davangere in central Karnataka.
Huchangi Prasad, a 23-year-old student and author of a book ‘Odala Kichchu’ which speaks against the caste system, alleged that he was assaulted on Wednesday and threatened that his fingers would be cut for writing against Hinduism.
“On October 21, late night, a group of eight to nine persons came to SC/ST hostel where I reside and told me that my mother was unwell. Worried I followed them. They took me to a place and started threatening and assaulting me for writing against Hinduism and caste system,” Mr Prasad told a news agency.
A journalism student, Mr Prasad alleged, “They also smeared kumkum on my face and threatened to cut my fingers for my writings.”
Attackers told him that he was born Dalit, because of sins he had committed in my previous life.”
Asked whether the men belonged to any particular group, Mr Prasad said “From their words it was almost clear that they are from some right wing group but I’m not completely sure.”
“A complaint was filed by Prasad yesterday alleging eight to ten persons had attacked him and attempted to kill him,” a police official involved in the investigation said.
He said case has been registered under various sections of Indian Penal Code, including 307 (attempt to murder), as also under sections of the SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) Act.