Evidence, a Madurai-based non-government organisation, has urged the State government to pay compensation to three Dalits allegedly attacked by a group of persons belonging to upper caste at Manganur village near Gandarvakottai near here recently.
The three Dalits – Marimuthu (70), Rajasekar (29) and his brother Prabakaran (27) – were attacked by a group of persons belonging to upper caste community near the panchayat union middle school in the village on Saturday.
Previous enmity between the two communities was said to be the reason behind the attack, according to police sources. Of the injured, Marimuthu has been admitted to Thanjavur Medical College and Hospital.
A fact-finding committee from Evidence, after a visit to the village, said that refusal of the Dalits to beat the ‘thappu’, a percussion instrument, during a funeral procession is said to have triggered the issue.
Irked over their decision, the upper caste Hindus took objection to the brothers, Rajasekar and Prabakaran, visiting a temple.
Based on a complaint filed by Prabakaran, the police registered a case under Sec. 147 (rioting), Sec. 341 (wrongful restraint), Sec. 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and Sec. 506 (1) (Criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and Sec.3 (1) of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Three persons, R.Marimuthu (23), S.Ganesan (24) and S.Sivamani (23), have been arrested and remanded to custody.
The police have also registered a case against a group of Dalits, based on a complaint from Thamaraiselvan, alleging that they had damaged a tea stall in the village.
Rs. 2 lakh relief
A. Katheer, executive director, Evidence, said that a relief of Rs.2 lakh should be sanctioned to each of the injured.
Further, the Dalits should be allowed to enter the local temple said to have been constructed by the upper caste people.
