An 18-year-old youth was arrested for allegedly attacking a Dalit’s house in Boothipuram near Usilampatti during a festival at the Santhana Mariamman Temple in the village.
Police said that the accused entered the house of A. Karuppanan (39) in East Colony of Boothipuram with a couple of other men, without any provocation, when the festival was in progress on Thursday night.
The men allegedly attacked Karuppanan and hurled casteist abuses at him and his family members. They also reportedly caused damage to the house, Karuppanan had alleged in his complaint.
C. K. Deivammal, an activist who visited the village, however, said that the issue broke out after a section of Dalits claimed rights for worshipping at the temple.
“Dalits from the village always participated in the festival. But, this year, they were kept away by the caste Hindus. The attack was the result of some of the Dalits questioned their decision,” she said.
When contacted, a senior police official said that the issue of denial of entry to temple had not been reported to them by the Dalits.
“The scuffle actually broke out with a group of caste Hindu men in which the Dalit’s house was a collateral damage. We have arrested a person in this connection,” the official said.
