Chikkamagaluru: A scheduled caste family from Kuruvangi village in Chikkamagaluru taluk has alleged that it was socially boycotted by a section of villagers after objecting to the construction of a structure on a public road behind Ambedkar Bhavan.A case has been registered at Chikkamagaluru Rural police station based on a complaint filed by KM Rajesh, a welder and resident of Kalyana Nagar, Chikkamagaluru.In his complaint filed on Friday, Rajesh stated that a villager, Venkatesh, had attempted to construct a structure using metal sheets on a public road and had installed an iron pole in the middle of a drain leading to his house, allegedly obstructing movement.When he questioned the work, Rajesh alleged that Venkatesh attempted to assault him and his mother. He said he had informed the panchayat PDO and EO on the phone and had sent photographs of the construction work. He further claimed that three high-voltage power lines pass above the structure and that any snapped wire could fall on the iron framework, posing a threat to public safety.According to the complaint, the PDO, the rural PSI and other officials subsequently inspected the site and advised Venkatesh to proceed with the work only after obtaining clearance from the concerned departments. However, Rajesh alleged that the construction was completed 15 days later without consulting officials.The complainant further alleged that on Sept 6, around 7.30am, Venkatesh, a BJP SC Morcha district youth president and former ZP member, along with Guruswamy and others, convened a meeting to socially boycott his family.According to the complaint, a youth identified as Keerthi was asked to announce over the village public address system that a meeting had been convened near Ambedkar Bhavan to discuss the exclusion and social boycott of Rajesh’s family.Rajesh further alleged that a villager, Shankar, called his brother Satish later that morning and informed him that it had been decided to ostracise the family, deny them temple-related privileges, refuse bookings at the Ambedkar community hall and exclude them from festival-related collections.Rajesh claimed to possess audio and video recordings, as well as phone records, as evidence.Police have registered a case under provisions relating to social boycott and criminal intimidation and said investigations are under way to verify the allegations.
