In the latest episode of caste-based violence in the country, a Dalit couple was fined Rs 23,000 after their 2-year-old son entered a Hanuman temple at Miyapura village near Hanumasagar in the Koppal district of Karnataka.
The toddler was taken to the Hanuman temple by his father on his birthday, according to IANS news agency.
As Dalits are not allowed inside the upper-caste Hindu-controlled temple, they always prayed from outside standing in front of the temple. The Father of the 2-year-old wanted to pray to 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 incident took place on September 4. The upper-caste villagers held a meeting on 11 September and asked the parents to pay Rs 23,000 as “fine” which is going to be used to carry out purification rituals in the temple, IANS reported.
Following the intervention of cops, the upper-caste Hindus apologized to the father of the boy. T. Sridhar, Superintendent of Police, Koppal who visited the spot, said that though he went to the house of the Dalit family to convince them to lodge a complaint, the community elders decided not to do so as it will breed animosity.
“The people from upper caste themselves opposed the action of the members of their own community and apologized to the Dalit boy’s family,” he adds.
