Twenty eight Dalit families, which left Vembathur village in Sivaganga district following two murders, were yet to return to their homes as they feared threat to their lives, said A. Kathir, Executive Director, Evidence, a human rights organisation, here on Friday.
Addressing a press conference, along with S. Murugan, former Vembathur panchayat president, Mr. Kathir alleged about 40 Dalit families that deserted the village in 2011 were now living in Puliyankulam, Madurai and Melur and their property had been ransacked by members of a dominant caste from nearby K. Pudukulam. He said that law should take its course in the two murder cases reported in January 2010 and May 2011 but people should not live like refugees in their own land. Mr. Murugan alleged that he had been attacked several times in the last five years and hence he had to approach the High Court for possession of a firearm.
Though the court had directed the Collector to take a decision on providing a firearm to him under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act), no action had been taken yet.
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Mr. Kathir said that they had approached the court several times in the past in the interest of displaced families. But officials had not responded to court directives. Cases should be filed against the Collector and Superintendent of Police under Section 4 of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, he said. If there was any delay in getting the Dalit families back to their homes, Evidence would approach the court again, alleging contempt of court. Mr. Kathir wanted the officials to take immediate action to provide Rs five lakh as compensation for property loss to each family.