Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi cadre, along with family members of P. Kachammal, a Dalit woman who was murdered by her caste Hindu neighbour, staged a protest near Madurai Collectorate on Monday alleging police inaction in arresting the accused.
According to the protesters, Kachammal (55), who worked as a sanitary worker in a hospital, and her husband K. Pandi (65) were attacked by their neighbour Irulandi, a daily wager, on Saturday night.
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K. Selvi, Kachammal’s daughter, said her parents lived on the ground floor while Irulandi resided on the first floor of a building in in Anna Nagar.
“Since we belonged to Arunthathiyar community, he did not like us staying in the same building and used to hurl casteist abuses at us and pick up unnecessary quarrels with us,” Ms. Selvi added.
P. Kathiravan, Madurai urban district secretary of VCK, said Irulandi and his wife Muniammal allegedly attacked the elderly couple with an iron hook, which is used for lifting gunny bags, and a log in an unprovoked quarrel. Kachammal, who suffered injuries on her head, was admitted at Government Rajaji Hospital where she died on Sunday. Her husband Pandi is recuperating.
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A. Kathir, Executive Director of the Evidence, a non-governmental organisation, later met the Collector along with the protesters. He alleged that the police had failed to arrest the accused even after three days of the incident.
“We have also not received a copy of first information report (FIR) till now,” he added.
Police sources said the case initially registered at Anna Nagar police station had been altered to a case of murder along with relevant sections of Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
“The main accused is absconding and we are hopeful of nabbing him soon,” an police official said.