Over 600 Dalit residents of Natham, Kondampatti and Anna Nagar in Naickankottai village began an indefinite fast on Wednesday to demand a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the attack on their houses on November 7.
A mob ransacked and set fire to their houses after a caste Hindu man committed suicide over his daughter marrying a Dalit youth from Natham.
The Dalits demanded the State Government order an inquiry headed by a sitting Judge of the High Court, in addition to the CBI probe. Over 1,000 school and college-going children from the Dalit families also observed fast in their colonies.
Other demands included the arrest of the main persons behind the attack, action under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against police personnel who failed to prevent the attack, Rs. 15 lakh interim compensation under the SC/ST Act and a visit to the colonies by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
They also demanded recovery of the property, including jewellery and cash, taken away by the gang that attacked the colonies.
M. Ashok Kumar, Superintendent of Police (in-charge) visited the colonies in the morning.
Functionaries of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi were present at the venue of the agitation.
Pattali Makkal Katchi leader S. Ramadoss might hold a meeting with party functionaries here on Thursday morning and address a public meeting in the evening, according to PMK sources.
