The residents of the Dalit habitations in Dharmapuri district, whose houses were ravaged recently by caste Hindus, are still in the grip of panic and in deep anguish over the losses to their property, according to the report of a fact-finding committee.
The committee has, therefore, called upon the authorities to arrange for counselling to them, particularly for the women and children, according to V.A. Rameshnathan, director of the Social Awareness Society for the Youths (SASY), who led the committee.
He told The Hindu that the committee, comprising six members of the SASY and the Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhagam, and a social activist, toured the affected places on November 10, 11 and 15.
From the narration of the residents and the evidence gathered from various sources it concluded that premeditated violence was unleashed against the hapless victims by a section of the caste Hindus.
The victims also voiced suspicion over the cause of death of Nagarajan, who was said to have committed suicide as he could not bear the shame brought about to the family by his daughter who got married to a Dalit boy.
He was subjected to frequent grilling by the kangaroo panchayat on the pretext of enquiring about the events that led to the marriage. The study revealed that Nagarajan was attracted to the Naxalbari ideologies with regard to untouchability and caste discrimination.
Therefore, the committee sought an inquiry by the CBI to bring out the truth.