Koppal, 15 Oct

A Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) in Koppal district was suspended for allegedly assaulting a Dalit man and hurling casteist slurs inside a police station.

Gururaj T, PSI at Kukanur Police Station, was suspended with immediate effect on Tuesday night after Galappa Hiremani, 34, a resident of Yalamageri village, lodged a complaint accusing him of physical assault and caste-based abuse.

Galappa, who had visited the station to help mediate a family dispute involving his relatives, alleged that the officer verbally abused him saying, “You Dalits work for Rs 500 doing menial jobs; I don’t need to learn from you,” before physically assaulting him.

The incident triggered a spontaneous protest by Dalit leaders and community members outside the police station. Despite efforts by Circle Police Inspector Mauneshwar Patil and Deputy Superintendent of Police Muttanna Savargol to pacify them, protesters refused to disperse until the PSI was suspended or booked under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Savargol confirmed that CCTV footage showed inappropriate behaviour by the officer.  

As tensions escalated, Superintendent of Police Ram L Arasiddi and Additional Superintendent of Police Hemant Kumar reached the spot, followed by a phone call from IGP Vartika Katiyar urging calm. After reviewing footage, the officer was suspended.