The Paramakudi police firing was State-sponsored, brutal murder of six Dalits and an attempt to suppress and oppress the democratic form of Dalit assertion in the State, said John Pandian, founder president, Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK), here on Wednesday.
Tension prevailed at Government Rajaji Hospital during his visit to meet those injured in the firing and rioting at Paramakudi and Chinthamani near Madurai.
Mr. Pandian clarified that there was no relation whatsoever between the murder of a 16-year-old Dalit boy, Palanikumar, on September 9 and the violence.
He was arrested after two days, on September 11, at Vallanad in Tuticorin.
“I was allotted time between 3.p.m. to 5.p.m. to pay my respects at the memorial of Dalit leader Immanuel Sekaran but was later illegally detained saying Section 144 Cr. P. C. has been promulgated prohibiting me from entering Ramanathapuram.”
Strongly condemning the police report, he said that it was an effort to communalise the events by trying to link it with wall graffiti. He demanded that First Information Report be filed against Rajesh Das, Inspector General of Police, South Zone, and K. A. Senthilvelan, Deputy Commissioner, Adyar (who was on deputation) under Section 302 and Avaniapuram (Madurai) Inspector Gajendran under Section 307 of the IPC in relation to the firing.
The TMMK, All India Devendra Kula Vellalar Munnetra Sangam and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi will organise peaceful protests till further action is taken against these officials, he said.
“VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan is a comrade in our struggle and it is not today that we are working together, but have been doing it for long,” Mr. Pandian said.
The party would take up the issue with the National Human Rights Commission and the National Scheduled Caste Commission.
The firing happened because a few “casteist” police officers “orchestrated” the violence.
A sitting High Court Judge should conduct an enquiry and a fresh post-mortem should be done on all the bodies as there were reports that there were deaths due to torture.
Earlier, VCK general secretary Chinthanai Selvan, along with members of the VCK and TMMK, met the injured victims.
The TMMK leader said that observing Immanuel Sekaran's guru puja was a democratic practice that was happening for years. During the last few years it was observed with great pride on the part of Dalits.
