The caste problem flared up again at Vadakku Mangudi near here as some unidentified persons burnt down two houses of Dalits on Tuesday night.
When a leader of the Human Rights Party went there to assess the situation, his car was blocked and the windscreen damaged by a group of people. Superintendent of Police A. Radhika, along with Chidambaram Sub-Collector M. Aravind and a posse of police, rushed to the area.The trouble began on Monday night when Dalit youths — Sanjiv Gandhi (23) and Vignesh (22) — riding on a motorcycle were waylaid by a six-member gang and severely beaten up with an iron rod.
The youths managed to escape and got themselves admitted to the Chidambaram government hospital. As news spread, their relatives and friends gathered in front of the hospital, demanding the immediate arrest of the attackers. They dispersed after the police assured them of action.
