The annual Panguni Uthiram festival held in a hamlet near Tiruchuli here, two days ago, has ended in trouble. A large number of police personnel have been deployed to ensure there were no untoward incidents.
Problem began after some Dalit youths were questioned by a few caste Hindu youths, when they were seen near the Boominathan temple Car. An altercation led to exchange of blows. Sensing violence, the locals informed the police.
Even before the police arrived, the youths who had exchanged blows had fled the scene. Panicked shopkeepers in the area downed shutters. However, after elders intervened, the temple Car was pulled by the devotees, but the ‘issue’ between the Dalits and caste Hindus continued.
On a complaint from Panchayat President Baskar’s supporters, the Tiruchuli police picked up five youths all identified as Dalits. After detaining them in the police station, they were also allegedly beaten up in a bid to bring out the truth.
Despite pleading that they had no role in the issue, the police were bent on punishing them. As the news spread, Dalits led by their village panchayat president Kumar approached the police station demanding immediate release of the youths.
The police summoned the complainant to the station. Baskar’s supporters said that the detained youths had no role in the clash. Immediately, the police released the youth as it was a case of mistaken identity.
Taking advantage of the situation, the villagers resorted to road blockade demanding action against the erring police officers. As tension mounted in the locality, heavy police was deployed and the agitators were dispersed.
Fact finding team
Meanwhile, a fact finding team from Evidence, a Madurai based NGO, visited the village on Saturday. The team, in a report, had demanded the police to register a case under SC/ST Atrocities & Prevention Act against the caste Hindu youths and urged the government to compensate the Dalit youths for treatment as they had suffered multiple injuries. The report also demanded suspension of the officers for their negligence in duty. The five Dalit youths are undergoing treatment at Arupukottai government hospital.
Dalits charge they were beaten, police deny it
