A clutch of human rights organisations have voiced concern over the attempts of certain forces to isolate the Dalit community from the mainstream.
They allege that these destabilising forces have been trying to sow the seeds of animosity among other communities against the Dalits.
The rights activists, who gathered here on Saturday, reviewed the police highhandedness against the Dalits and the relentless efforts being made by certain outfits in rallying support for their bid to undermine the Dalits.
In a resolution passed on the occasion the rights activists noted that the casteist forces were clamouring for repealing the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act branding inter-caste marriages as love-dramas and mobilising support of various sections of the society against the Dalits with the motive to marginalise them. The activists alleged that in this vortex of purveying enmity certain government officials and police officers were caught inextricably as they too were acting with vengeance against Dalits. The growing animosity against the Dalits would spoil the fabric of the society and disrupt peace.
Therefore, the State government ought to take appropriate measures to conduct sensitising programme for the officials and police officers on how to deal with issues concerning the Dalits.
The activists cited two recent incidents to substantiate their views. On January 25, a head constable Perumal slapped A. Cheran, State deputy secretary of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, who had gone to meet a person in police detention there. Though Mr. Cheran lodged a complaint with the police till today no action was taken against the erring policeman.
Similarly on January 19 two advocates Sugumaran and Ezhilarasan, who went to the Mailam police station in connection with a case, were also assaulted by the policemen and detained. The police later foisted false cases on the advocates and produced them before the Judicial Magistrate who ordered them to set the advocates free on bail. Since both the incidents had occurred in police station it would not be proper for the policemen concerned to conduct investigation.
Hence, the activists called for a CBCID enquiry, suspension of the policemen and filing of cases against them by invoking the provisions of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.
Those who participated in the meeting included P.V. Ramesh of the Makkal Padhukappu Iyakkam, Prof. Kalvimani of the Pazhangudi Irula Padhukappu Sangam, G. Sugumaran (Puducherry) and R. Babu of the Makkal Urimai Koottamaippu (Cuddalore), R. Murugappan of the Social Awareness Society for Youths and K. Tamilvengai of the Tamilar Desiya Munnani.
State government urged to take appropriate measures to conduct sensitising programme for the officials
