Katkol police have arrested three people for allegedly abusing a Dalit youth and assaulting him after tying him to a tree at Godachi village in Ramdurg taluk. A video of the August 5 incident went viral on social media on Monday.
The victim, Iranna Vithal Naikar of Godachi village, was allegedly taken on a bike under the pretext of work by the main accused, Iranna Sangappa Pakanatti, and Basangouda Ningangouda Patil to the farmhouse of Ramesh Pakanatti. There, Naikar was forced to summon Laxman Mallappa Chippalakatti.
Police said the accused, Iranna Sangappa Pakanatti, Basangouda Ningangouda Patil, Pradeep Iranna Pakanatti, Mahantesh Laxman Pakanatti, Sachin Danappa Pakanatti, Ningraj Irappa Pakanatti, and Sangappa Ningappa Pakanatti, abused the two and made casteist remarks over a dispute regarding a road through agricultural land.
Naikar and Chippalakatti were beaten with pipes, wires, and sticks. Iranna was later tied to a tree, assaulted again, and filmed. Following Naikar’s complaint on August 9, police arrested Iranna Sangappa Pakanatti, Mahantesh Laxman Pakanatti, and Sachin Danappa Pakanatti.
