Hyderabad, August 22: A Dalit Panchayat head and her husband on Wednesday lodged a police complaint against eight people of upper caste for an alleged assault in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana. They were assaulted allegedly for trying to break coconuts in the temple. All the eight people have been booked under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

According to a report published in the Indian Express, the incident took place on August 18 when the couple tried to break coconuts at a temple during a festival, and a group of upper-caste villagers allegedly assaulted them. Police informed that they have arrested two accused and sent them to judicial custody. Tamil Nadu: Dalits 'Airdrop' Dead Body From Atop 20-Foot-High Bridge After Being Denied Access to Crematorium in Tirupattur

Inspector P Guruva Reddy of Ibrahimpatnam Police Station, where the case was registered, said, "These eight people from Reddy community, manhandled the Dalit couple and prevented them from making offerings at the village temple. Two have been arrested, six are absconding."

Elected in January as sarpanch in the Panchayat elections, Katthula Pavitra used to make the first offering of fruits and coconuts to the deity during Bonalu, as per tradition in Tukkuguda in Telangana. On August 18, both Pavitra and her husband K Kumar reached the temple to make the first offering. Ten people from the Reddy community objected to their presence at the temple and prevented them from breaking coconuts.

Kumar alleged that when they protested, community members beat him up and also attacked his wife. Adding on, Kumar even complained that they were abused and thrown out of the temple. Following this, they lodged a complaint and the police took instant action.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 22, 2019 12:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).