Dalits told Lobo that some traditional barbers, who go from house to house to shave/cut hair of people, flatly refuse customers form their community.He was told that Dalits are also prohibited from entering temples in the village. Dalits have their own temple -- Kenchamma temple -- in the village. Dalits said there is a car festival in the village on March 31 but they are not permitted even to touch the chariot let alone drag it.

They alleged that of the 36 petty tea shops in the village, majority of them practice untouchability and serve Dalits in separate glasses and plates.Lobo suggested to the deputy commissioner that theDalits can be given some training so that they can have their own hair cutting saloon. He said ``when Brahmins can open hair cutting saloons under self-help projects, why not Dalits?''

He said he had visited the village since he read about the clashes in newspapers and will present a report to the Commission. Lobo met some caste-Hindus in the village who openly refused to take Dalits for work in their field. They reportedly told him that they have brought workers from neighbouring Andhra camps to work in their field. When Lobo suggested for a peace committee meeting, they shot back: ``Where is the need for such a committee. When our 33 persons are in jail, what purpose would the peace committee serve?'' They said first let them come out of jail then we will decide on the peace meeting.