Dalit woman demands action against Jangaon Collector, others under SC/ST Act

A Dalit woman in Jangaon has sought action under the SC/ST Act against the district Collector and officials, alleging harassment, casteist remarks and attempts to remove her tea stall, leading to financial loss and distress.

Jangaon: A Dalit woman has lodged a complaint with the Jangaon police seeking registration of a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against district Collector Sandeep Kumar Jha.

In the complaint submitted to Jangaon Inspector of Police Satyanarayana Reddy, she also sought registration of a case against DRDO N Vasantha, Municipal Commissioner Maheshwar Reddy, Jangaon town revenue inspector Venkateshwarlu and staff under the Act.

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The woman, Palamakula Chinna Manjula of Erragollapahad village of Jangaon mandal, in her complaint on March 16, stated that a Vanitha tea stall was sanctioned to her under the Indira Mahila Shakti Scheme by allotting a site at a corner outside the district collectorate.

The previous district Collector, Rizwan Basha Shaik, had provided a kiosk, power and water connection and inaugurated the tea stall on March 6, 2025, along with DRDO and district officials.

However, Municipal Commissioner Maheshwar Reddy, tahsildar Mosim, RI Venkateshwarlu and staff tried to remove the tea stall with an earthmover and crane on March 11, stating that it was on the orders of the Collector, Sandeep Kumar Jha.

When she pleaded with them not to damage the tea stall, they went back. The next day, they returned to remove the stall while making casteist remarks, saying that she had no right to run the stall there and would face serious consequences if the place was not vacated.

On the other hand, the electricity department disconnected the tea stall’s power connection. As a result, she incurred a loss of Rs 10,000 as milk and other items in the fridge were damaged, Manjula lamented.

The woman said that she had taken private loans worth Rs 3 lakh to develop the tea stall while repaying instalments of a Rs 3 lakh loan provided to her under the scheme. She sought legal action against the above officials for causing her financial loss and mental trauma. The police were yet to act on her complaint.

It may be recalled that Sandeep Kumar Jha, when he was Sircilla Collector in February this year, faced severe criticism as he reportedly ordered the closure of a tea stall in Sircilla town because its owner Bathula Srinivas displayed a photo of BRS working president KT Rama Rao.