Dadeldhura, April 3:

Police today detained Digambar Mishra, acting chief of Dadeldhura-based office of Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, accusing him of misbehaving with a dalit.

He was accused of humiliating Mahabir Sarki, peon of Mahendra Namuna Higher Secondary School.

Mahabir said, "He asked me to wash the tea cup myself and scolded." Several dalit organisations working for the welfare of dalits have filed a case against Mishra in the District Police Office, demanding punishment for the guilty.

Chairman of Village Reform Committee and Dalit rights activist Bharat Nepali said, "Such an incident is a mockery of the rule of law." Stating that such incidents occur frequently in the countryside, he said, "The Dalit community would intensify protests if their demand were not met." DSP Krishna Prasad Mainali said investigation would be launched into the incident.