Mangaluru: Deputy commissioner of police (law and order) Sam Varghese has warned of strict action against vesha performers found making casteist remarks during the upcoming Dasara and Navaratri festivities.
Directorate of civil rights enforcement (DCRE) SP CA Simon said, “Adorning veshas is part of the Dasara tradition. “I live across from the police station, but I have not been invited to any meetings yet,” he said. The DCP said police conducted drives against vehicles, including buses, fitted with shrill horns and directed traffic police to intensify them.
The warning came after representatives of Dalit organisations raised concerns that some performers may make caste-related remarks insulting or demeaning particular communities. The issue was raised at the monthly SC/ST grievances redressal meeting at the city police commissioner’s office Sunday. However, insulting any caste will not be tolerated. A Konaje resident alleged that SC/ST grievance redressal meetings were not being held at the Konaje police station on a station-wise basis. A participant alleged that several autorickshaws in the city were using shrill horns, causing inconvenience to passengers, and sought police action. He urged the complainant to send photographs of autorickshaws using such horns to the police control room and assured that the complainant’s identity would be kept confidential. The DCP also appealed to the public to send photographs of traffic violations to the control room to help police initiate action.