Dalit girl seeks CM's help, booked for prostitution instead

Sunitha (25) had approached the Chief Minister's entourage during his janatha darshan (public meeting) on 17 May.  She had come to ask for the CM for his intervention on the issuance of a BDA-allotted site in Vijaynagar.

Sunitha later alleged that officials in the event misbehaved with her, and had even commented on her character.

An official asked me to wait. Some time later a police jeep was summoned and I was forced into the vehicle. The female police abused me, claiming they had picked me for suspicious movement. They took me to the High Grounds Police Station. The police refused to believe my version of the story. I was told I would be booked for prostitution and sent to jail. Later, I was confined at the Women's Remand Home, said Sunitha.

For two days, she was kept in the Remand Home.

Sunitha claimed the police later summoned her husband, an autorickshaw driver, and forced him to write a letter to project her as the accused. The police also called the autorickshaw owner and warned him to not to rent out his vehicle to Sunitha's husband.

Sunitha, who was released from the Remand home on 19 May, once again tried to visit the CM's office to demand justice. "I had threatened to end my life against the inhumane treatment. The police stopped me from doing so and booked a case against me," she stated.

At the press release, convened by JD(S) leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, Sunitha asked the police, "If I had to do prostitution, why would I come to the CM's house. They behaved badly."

Responding to the allegations made by Sunitha, Kumaraswamy said, “The woman wanted to set up a bakery and hence approached a private money lender. She had placed the BDA site as a guarantee for the loan.

Now, after the media report about the issue, the money lender is not ready to lend her any money. Siddaramaiah who boasts about uplifting of Dalits and minorities by his various schemes should take action against the guilty within two days. He should ensure that this poor girl gets her occupancy certificate and also provide her an interest-free loan. If steps are not taken, I will launch an agitation in front of the CM's residence, said Kumaraswamy. 

• Dalit girl
• Suneetha
• Janata Darshan
• Kumaraswamy press meet
• Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
• Karnataka CM