Karnataka hostel student allegedly paraded half-naked for refusing to attend 'Ambedkar Puja'

A hostel student in Karnataka's Kalaburagi district was reportedly made to parade half-naked, holding a portrait of Dr BR Ambedkar on Thursday, after refusing to attend the hostel's weekly 'Ambedkar Puja', held every Sunday.

As per reports, the victim allegedly declined participation in the weekly 'Ambedkar Puja', citing prior commitments. Following this, he was purportedly subjected to verbal abuse, and physical assault, and then paraded half-naked through the streets of Kalaburagi.

A case has been filed at the Ashok Nagar police station, and the police are probing into the incident.

This incident comes days after a BR Ambedkar statue in Kalaburagi's Kotnoor (D) village was defiled with a garland made out of shoes. Soon, protests erupted, with demonstrators, led by various Dalit organizations, condemning the act. The angry protestors rounded up the vehicle of Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanika Sikriwal, demanding swift arrests.​