Dalit family fined Rs 23,000 after toddler enters Hanuman temple

Koppal: A Dalit couple was fined Rs 23,000 after their 2-year-old son entered a Hanuman temple in Koppals’s Miyapura village.

On September 4, the boy’s father took him to the temple to seek blessings of the god on his birthday. Since entry of Dalits to the temple was “forbidden” by the members of the upper caste, the father was offering prayers to the god from outside along with his son.

However, the toddler in excitement ran inside the temple and prayed to the god and came back.

The upper caste villagers were furious with the toddler entering the temple claiming that it was desecrated and sought Rs 23,000 from the parents of the boy to perform purification rituals.

However, other villagers from upper castes opposed the move terming it ”harsh.”

The episode sparked a debate in the village, and came to the notice of Kushtagi police.

Five people have been arrested in connection with the case,” the superintendent of police T Sreedhara said.

The family was afraid to approach the police fearing backlash from sections upper caste.

Some members of the Koppal district Chennadasar Mahasabha too visited the village and held meetings, leading to tense atmosphere.

Based on a complaint by social welfare department assistant director Balachandra Sanganal, the case was registered on Tuesday.

In the past two days, the district administration conducted a series of public meetings to sensitise people of the village against the evil of casteism and its impact on society.

Further, a grand Pooja was organised where all the communities of the village took part including Chennadasars in the presence of police.