Social boycott for refusing to play Dappu: Telangana HC directs Medak admin to provide security to Dalit family
The social boycott was announced after the Dalit brothers did not play Dappu at a funeral
By Newsmeter Network Published on 24 Sep 2024 1:37 AM GMT
Telangana High Court (file photo)
Hyderabad: Telangana High Court has directed the Medak administration to provide police protection to a Dalit man and his family and ensure that they are not ostracized by villagers for refusing to play Dappu at the funeral.
Two post-graduate Dalit brothersā refusal to follow their traditional occupation of playing Dappu (drum) at marriages and funerals in a village in Medak district has led to a social boycott of the entire family.
Panchami Chandram, an M.Com from Osmania University, and his brother Arjun, who did MSc from JNTU, and their family have also been externed from the Gouthojiguda village of Manoharabad Mandal in Medak district. The village is about 45 km from Hyderabad.
The social boycott was announced after the Dalit brothers did not play Dappu at a funeral in the village due to their job preoccupation.
Hearing a writ petition of Panchami Chandram, Justice Bollam Vijaysen Reddy directed the Superintendent of Police, Medak to provide police protection to the petitioner and his family members. The court also directed the District Collector, Medak to ensure that the victim and his family members are not further subjected to social boycott.
The court asked the District Collector to instruct police and revenue officials to make a public announcement in this regard.
GP for Home informed the court that crime No. 239/2024 has been registered in the Manoharabad police station on September 12. He said police are investigating the case impartially, though the petitioner has disputed such an investigation. The GP informed the court that the accused had been sent to judicial remand.
After hearing the petitioner's counsel and the GP, the court directed the Superintendent of Police, Medak to protect the petitioner and his family members. District Collector, Medak was asked to ensure that such an incident does not occur again.
The court was hearing the petition filed by Chandram Panchami, a resident of Gowthojigudem Village, Manoharabad Mandal, Medak District after fellow villagers ordered a social boycott.
The matter has been adjourned till October 18.
