Police sub-inspector Sher Bahadur Chand and priest Srilal Bohara had last week stopped police personnel Janak BK, who was deployed for a Budhinanda Temple festival, from entering the temple premises, according to the activists.
Organizing a press conference on Monday, the Dalit leaders informed that the case would be registered as per Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability Act (2011). [break]
BK, who was deployed for the security of the Chaturdashi fair, was called back to a place, which is three hours trek from the fair venue, with the intention to bar him from the temple, according to the rights activists.
They added that the priest had reportedly requested the commander of the security team deployed at the fair to stop BK from entering the temple after learning that a Dalit policeman had come to pay homage at the temple.
They added that Chand and Bohara deliberately stopped BK from entering the temple as well as the fair, and treated him insultingly just because he was from the Dalit community.
Chand has, meanwhile, admitted that he had to send BK away from the fair after the priest warned that the prayer ceremony at the temple would not start if a Dalit policeman participates in it.
BK said that he felt humiliated before hundreds of devotees present at the temple.
The police have taken Chand, Bohora and personnel BK to district headquarters Martadi on Sunday to further investigate the incident.
BK, who has been posted at Kolti Airport for the security, had to trek for two days back to his office alone after the team commander ordered him to leave the fair venue.
“I had to return humiliated from the festival venue because I am a Dalit. I spent whole night crying at Chhapre Patan after I was recalled from the duty,” BK told officials at the District Administration Office.
However, priest Bohara remained unrepentant for whatever he did, stating that he was trying to uphold the long-held tradition.
“I am 60 years old now. I have been attending the Budhinanda festival since I was 12. The fair needed no security arrangement in the past. Why would it be needed this year,” said Bohara, adding that police security was not needed as the goddess herself would guard her devotees.
Chand said he obeyed the priest´s demand to send BK out of the festival venue, fearing disruption of the fair.
“This is an insult of the entire Dalit community. We will make sure that the guilty would be duly punished,” said Tika BK, a Dalit activist.
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