By India News
Hyderabad:
Sixteen people of a village in Medak district of Telangana were arrested for allegedly enforcing a social boycott on members of a Dalit family after they refused to play ‘Dappu’ (a percussion instrument) during village ceremonies, police said on Tuesday.
The family belonging to the Madiga community (Scheduled Caste) was allegedly ostracised by some villagers after its members refused to continue their traditional occupation of playing ‘Dappu’ during funerals in the village.
Two brothers of the Dalit family, who are postgraduates and employed in Hyderabad, were being pressured by some villagers, including some belonging to their own community, to play the instrument during ceremonies. However, the brothers had declined.
The Upa Sarpanch (deputy sarpanch) was also accused of not granting permission for constructing a house and providing a water connection to the family, police said.
This story was originally published in ndtv.com. Read the full story here.