KARNATAKA, GADAG, INDIA, 18 August, 2005: An altercation between Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste groups over drinking water in a village hotel has led to the social boycott of 80 Dalit (“Untouchables”) families at Hallikeri village of Mundargi taluk in Gadag district for the past four days, according to delayed reports reaching here. As a consequence, none of those belonging to the Madiga section among the Dalits are getting drinking water or are allowed to go to the hotel. It is said that the incident in which some youths drank water in the hotel belonging to a person of the Scheduled Tribe community led to some of them being thrashed by the people belonging to the Scheduled Tribe, resulting in tension in the village. Even flour mills have are said to be off bounds for the Dalits. People who disregard the social boycott have been threatened with a fine. They are forced to get the daily essentials from far-off places such as Koppal, Gadag, Bannikoppa and Halligudi. Some of the affected families have even moved to other places with their cattle.
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