BELAGAVI, 13 MARCH

Incidents of abuse against Karnataka government employees persist in Belagavi taluk, with the latest report involving a Development Officer verbally attacked by a Marathi speaker for not issuing documents in Marathi. This marks the third such case in just one month.

Tippanna Subhash Dokre allegedly confronted Kiniye Gram Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) Nagendra Pattar, demanding documents in Marathi. The confrontation escalated, with Dokre reportedly threatening Pattar and insisting he communicate in Marathi. In response, Pattar informed Dokre that he was bound by government directives to communicate in Kannada. Following the altercation, which occurred during office hours, Pattar filed a complaint with the Belagavi rural police, leading to Dokre’s arrest for threatening and obstructing government work. He has since been incarcerated in Belagavi prison.

Earlier incidents include an attack on Karnataka government bus conductor Mahadevappa Hukkeri, who was assaulted for not conversing with passengers in Marathi, and a recent case involving panchayat secretary Nagendra Kodli, who was beaten by a gang for similar reasons.

In light of these events, Kannada organisations, led by Vatal Nagraj and Sa Ra Govindu, have protested against the harassment of employees and are calling for a ban on the pro-Maharashtrian organisation Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES). They are also organising a Karnataka bandh on 22 March.