BIJAPUR: A Dalit girl was tied to a tree for over four hours and beaten up, accordin to reports from Budihal PH village in Sindagi taluk on Thursday.

The victim, Nirmala Kantheppa Harijan (14), was beaten up by one Ninganna Biradar who objected to her picking up a handful of green grass from his fields. Villagers watched helplessly as Biradar threatened them and dared anyone to stop him. Biradar was also said to have been angry over sheep belonging to Nirmala’s family grazing on his jowar crops a few days ago. Nirmala has no mother and her father was away in Maharashtra working as a labourer. Police who released Nirmala, said Biradar was absconding and a case has been registered at Sindagi police station.

President of the local Laxmi Mahila Samukhya Sangh, Sharanabai Harijan, vicepresident Neelamma and other dalit leaders condemned the incident.Thursday.