2 Bajrang Dal activists among 7 booked for 'attacking' Dalits

Seven persons, including two Bajrang Dal activists, have been booked on charge of attacking a Dalit family in their house in Chikmagaluru,Karnataka, recently for alleged cow slaughter, police said on Sunday.

The alleged attack has come to light amid furore over the assault on Dalits in Gujarat's Una for allegedly skinning a cow.

Police registered the case against seven locals on a counter-complaint by three Dalits, who were on July 10 booked for allegedly slaughtering the cow in their house under Jayapura police station limits.

The alleged attack on Dalits came to light on Saturday after 'Komu Souharda Vedike', a forum for communal harmony, raised the issue.

"Based on a complaint, we have booked seven persons, including two Bajrang Dal activists, for attacking three Dalits in their house," Jayapura Sub-Inspector of Police Chandrashekhar told PTI.

Acting on a complaint, police had initially filed a case against the Dalit family members.

"The accused had gone to the house of the Dalits on July 10 to find out whether they had slaughtered the cow, without seeking permission," the SI said.

On being informed, a police team visited the house of the Dalits, found them 'cutting' the meat, and booked them. The three Dalits were taken to police station but later let off, he said.

The next day, a member of the Dalit family filed a counter-complaint alleging that the accused had attacked them after barging into their house.

Subsequently, a case of rioting and atrocity against the Dalits had been registered against seven persons, who have already obtained anticipatory bail, Chandrashekhar said, adding investigation into both the complaints is on.