Dalit boycott in Mallam village sparks outrage, KVPS demands for justice

Andhra Pradesh: Mallam village in Pithapuram mandal, Kakinada district, faces escalating tension as upper castes impose a social boycott on Dalits following a Dalit youth’s electrocution death, prompting strong condemnation and action demands from the Anti-Caste Discrimination Society (KVPS).

KVPS condemns boycott and seeks government action

The KVPS, led by State President O Nallappa and General Secretary Andra Malyadri, has fiercely criticized the social boycott of Dalits by upper castes, blaming Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s administration for compromising with both communities instead of prosecuting the perpetrators. They argue that such inaction under the guise of maintaining law and order is unjust, urging strict enforcement of the SC and ST Prevention of Atrocities Act against those enforcing exclusion.

Call for official intervention

KVPS demands immediate visits from state home and social welfare departments to Mallam to register cases, bolster Dalit morale, and prevent further incidents. They also request Rs 25 lakhs in financial aid for the deceased youth’s family, whose death triggered the boycott, and insist on implementing Justice Punnaiah Commission recommendations to curb caste discrimination.

Details of the boycott

Upper-caste leaders have banned Dalits from agricultural and non-agricultural work, denied them access to hotels, groceries, and milk, and restricted ST vendors from selling chicken to SCs. In retaliation, Dalits have halted fish sales in upper-caste areas. This escalation follows a meeting few days ago, driven by upper-caste unease over Dalit unity and rights advocacy.

KVPS letter to Social Welfare Minister

In a letter to the Social Welfare Minister, KVPS has called for legal action against upper caste leaders orchestrating the boycott, protection for affected Dalits, and measures to support the ostracized community, emphasizing the need to criminalize caste-based discrimination in the village.