Karnataka: 16 female Dalit workers locked up in coffee estate, assaulted; pregnant woman suffers miscarriage

Bengaluru: A police case has been filed against a coffee estate owner and his son, who allegedly kept 14 female Dalit labourers under house arrest in Hunasehalli village over a financial issue.

The family members of the victim accused BJP member of assaulting a pregnant woman which resulted in miscarriage.

Speaking to reporters, Chikkamagaluru SP said, "A case has been filed against Jagadeesh Gowda who is the owner of the coffee estate and his son Tilak. Both had kept 14 female Dalit labourers under house arrest over a financial issue. The accused assaulted a pregnant labour too."

The case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Prevention of Atrocities Against SC/ST Act, he said.

The complainant alleged that Gowda had picked up a quarrel with her brother-in-law two weeks before assaulting the woman over a petty issue pertaining to children.

She also alleged that the accused assaulted her brother-in-law when he questioned his misconduct.

The next day Gowda held the victims captive after the victims refused to join work, giving reason for assaulting them. "It was my mother who freed us," she said. (UNI)