தமிழ்வாணன், VCK – Theni District Secretary
April 9th.
Melmangalam village, near Periyakulam, Theni district.
A Dalit youth Suresh (30) eloped with a caste hindu girl Muthulatchumi (25) on 30th March, 2014. Fearing for their life, it is said they fled to Kerala. No complaint was pressed by the girl’s family, instead the caste hindu village heads threatened Dalits, asking for return of the girl. Dalits denied any knowledge of their whereabouts.
On 6th April, 2014, Theni Lok Sabha candidate of DMK Muthuramalingam visited the area for campaign. Caste hindus gathered in hundreds for the campaign meet. After the meet, the gathering including ADMK supporters started attacking the Dalit colony nearby. They burnt automobiles, looted the houses and set fire to them. Caste hindu women too participated in the attack along with their men. 3 Dalit men sustained injuries from sickle attack, 1 women was injured in the ear and 6 Dalits were hospitalised. 10 houses, 3 shops and a temple were burnt down.
Media reports say 12 persons were arrested so far & others are absconding. Police protection has been given to the colony. When Liberation Panthers Party district functionaries visited the colony they were denied permission to enter the colony for the past 2 days, and were allowed inside only today. Theni district secretary Tamizvanan, D. Sec. Nagarathinam, Women’s wing organizer, Komathi Ananthraj, and advocates wing organizer, Sivanesan, visited the colony.
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[Via Joshua Issac]
