Demanding stern action against the upper caste people, who attacked him on July 1 last, a Dalit person along with his family members sat on an indefinite dharna in front of the SDPO office on Friday.
According to sources, Rabindra Mallick (55), a resident of Manapatana under Kendrapada sadar police station limits demanded action against three persons of his village who not only assaulted him but also restricted his family to use the public road, grocery shop, pond, gochar land and other public goods.
Mallick alleged that due to past enmity he was attacked by Maguni Charan Das, Manguli Das and Sridhar Das with sharp weapons and lathis to kill him. After assaulting him, the trio also hurled casteist remarks on him and his family members, he charged. They later dragged him after tying him in a rope at the village road and fled from the spot when he fell unconscious, Mallick said, adding that he was rescued by a few relatives and admitted in a hospital for treatment.
Mallick had lodged an FIR against the trio at Kendrapada sadar police station but even after a month, the police have not taken any action against the trio, he lamented. “Due to paucity of fund, I have failed to get proper treatment as one of my hands and legs were damaged in the attack. On the other hand, the accused are moving scot free and threatening me.
Even, the accused have restricted me and my family not to use public properties,” he said. When contacted the SDPO Nrushingha Charan Swain stated that the accused have evaded arrest so far and a police team was camping in the village to nab them. Meanwhile, the District Collector has provided Rs 10,000 from the Chief Minister Relief Fund to injured Mallick for his further treatment.