Tension prevailed in front of the District Collectorate here on Monday, as the police prevented Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam activists from forcibly entering the Collectorate to attend the public grievances redress meeting.
The police removed around 170 Kazhagam activists, including six women, when they tried to enter the premises. Some even tried to scale the closed gates. The Kazhagam president, Kolathur Mani, told reporters that ‘two-tumbler’ system was prevalent in 37 villages of Coimbatore district.
In many places of the district, the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes were being denied hair cuts.
“The party had lodged several complaints to the Coimbatore District Collector who has so far not initiated any action,” he said.
He said that the Supreme Court had clearly stated that all such complaints should be registered immediately under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and action should be initiated immediately.
Those residing in Maniakaranpalayam, Vellambal Nagar, R.K. Nagar, and Gandhi Nagar have requested the district administration to remove an encroachment on a pathway, which was forcing them to travel an additional 7 km to reach Gandhipuram.
A petition was submitted to District Collector M. Karunagaran during the public grievances redress meeting held at the Collectorate on Monday.
S. Mathivanan, who led the group, said that residents of ten localities were affected as a wall was constructed by a mill owner claiming that the land belonged to him.
