The district police arrested four persons for allegedly abusing a Dalit woman panchayat president near Usilampatti on Tuesday night.
Based on a complaint by M.Vijayarani, president of Kinnimangalam panchayat, the Chekkanoorani police filed a case against five caste Hindu villagers.
The accused had been nurturing enmity against the panchayat president and had been submitting petitions against her to the Collector, Usilampatti Deputy Superintendent of Police K.Saravanakumar, who is investigating the case, said.
They had claimed that the president had shown favouritism in selecting beneficiaries under government schemes, including free distribution of goats.
Besides, they used to make derogatory remarks against her. Despite repeated warnings, they used to leave their cattle on the panchayat office premises, Mr.Saravanakumar said.
Recently, they had told her that she should apologise to them for her actions if she wanted them to withdraw their complaints against her with the district administration.
While P.Barani, P.Mani, M.Mani and M.Kasi were arrested, one R.Rasu was absconding.
They were booked for abusing, preventing her from discharging her official duties and criminal intimidation and under the provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, he said.
