http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Social+boycott+of+Dalits+escalates+tension+in+village&artid=OfBgWPYgn/8=&SectionID=e7uPP4%7CpSiw=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=EH8HilNJ2uYAot5nzqumeA==&SEO=
By Express News Service 05 Jun 2009 03:28:00 AM IST Social boycott of Dalits escalates tension in village AKIVEEDU: District Collector G Jayalakshmi, Superintendent of Police B Balakrishna and Narasapuram Sub-Collector Ronald Rose visited Kollaparru village of Akiveedu mandal on Thursday when men belonging to the upper caste allegedly imposed a social boycott on the Dalits. Allegedly, an upper caste man slapped one Lazarus of the village in connection with a petty issue. The Dalits filed a complaint against the upper caste man under SC, ST Atrocity Act. Later both the groups came to a compromise. But developing a grudge over the police complaint, the upper caste men of the village allegedly cut the supply of milk, drinking water and cable connection to the Dalits from June 1. Two provision shops running in the Dalitwada were also closed. A Dalit leader Bushanam, alleged that the upper caste men are harassing them on one pretext or another. He said that the Dalits are working in the farms of upper caste men from several decades but now they were not being called for work. The Dalits complained that they were suffering provision crunch due to the social boycott. Meanwhile the upper caste men complained to the District Collector that the Dalits are threatening them by foisting cases under the Atrocity Act. After discussing with both the groups, the District Collector warned the upper castemen against serious action, if they resort to social boycott of Dalits. She formed a peace committee with leaders of both the groups and advised elders of both the groups to maintain social fabric and communal harmony to maintain peace in the village.
