The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has threatened to remove a fence erected by a functionary of the ruling party across a concrete road used by Dalit people at Alagumalai village in Tirupur. The party has alleged that the fence was erected to keep the listed communities at bay from the rest of the society.
S. Muthukannan, district secretary of the party in Tirupur, issued a statement on Wednesday stating that the fence will be removed by its cadre on Sunday, if the authorities failed to do the same.
The statement said that Dalit people have been using the road through poramboke land belonging to the Revenue Department, which passes close to Eswaran Temple, for over 200 years. A concrete road was laid on the stretch using panchayat funds five years back for the use of Dalit people.
According to Mr. Muthukannan, an iron fencing was erected across the concrete road after it was closed by a senior functionary of the AIADMK and his men with the support of the police on October 10.
He alleged that the road was closed with an intention to block way for Dalit people and casteist forces used Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department for the same.
He further said that the communal harmony in the village was disrupted following the incident.
The party has urged the Revenue Department to take action for encroaching on the poramboke land by erecting the fence and blocking the concrete road belonging to the government.
When contacted, a senior official of the Revenue Department said that the Tirupur Sub-Collector has inquired about the allegation after receiving the complaint from the CPI(M).
“The Sub-Collector has called a meeting of the petitioner, affected parties, those accused of erecting the fencing and other stakeholders on Friday evening,” said the official.
