Dalits protest abuse by Infosys RM, police; OHRC seeks report

OST Bureau

Bhubaneswar, Dec 20:

Hundreds of dalits of the city, under the banner of National Confederation of Dalit Organisation (NCDO), staged a protest in front of Odisha Human Right Commission (OHRC) on Friday and burnt effigy of Regional Manager of Infosys Baibhav Patel here demanding his arrest for misbehaving with dalits working in the company on November 18 this year.

They also blamed police for not arresting Patel after a case was registered at the Infocity Police here on the same day.

According to Ashok Kumar Mallick, state president of NCDO, Patel has repeatedly misbehaved with around 200 dalits working in the company as contractual labourers in his service period. After the incidents came to the notice, members of NCDO, along with the victims, lodged a complaint with the local police station.

But instead of acting against the Infosys honcho, Infocity police helped Patel. It did not allow dalits to hold a demonstration in front of the Infocity on December 19 this month and forced them to go back.

“Above all, the Inspector-in-charge of Infocity police station Bijayini Singh too went against us and used abusive words with me over phone saying ‘sala hadi, pana’. What type of dalit organisation you operate in state? She also threatened to kidnap me if I create pressed for action against Patel,” Mallick said.

“Failign to get the justice, we again lodged another complaint with the Capital Police station on December 19 and later staged a demonstration at the lower PMG here but neither the police personnel nor the State Government listened to our demands,” Mallick added.

He further said on November 5 this year, some ruffians assaulted another dalit person Jitu Kandi of Lingaraj without any provocation, but no action has been taken against the culprits even after a case was registered at the local police station.

“We are protesting against police inaction in arresting Patel as well as providing security to the dalits in the state. In this regard, a memorandum has been submitted to the OHRC,” said Mallick.

Meanwhile, OHRC has directed Chief Secretary, Twin City Police Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of police to submit a report within two weeks in connection to this case.

On being contacted, Infocity regional manager Patel refused to say anything on this issue. The IIC Infocity said she was on leave when the case was registered on November 18 and refuted the allegation about her misconduct with dalits.