Apprehending threat to life and property, a Dalit woman on Thursday petitioned to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes here seeking its help to obtain a gun licence.
S. Sudha of Veppamarathur village in Dharmapuri district has alleged harassment and repeated threats to her life even as the police have provided her with a round-the-clock security cover.
The woman claimed in her petition that three years ago she got married to Suresh, who belongs to the Vanniyar community.
After Dalit villages in the district were allegedly attacked by Caste Hindus, following the sensational Ilavarasan-Divya marriage in 2012, her family was ostracised from the village. Even her husband’s family was not allowed to draw water from the common tap or enter the temple.
Having suffered social boycott, Ms. Sudha lodged a complaint with the Bommidi police, who registered a case under the provisions of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989. Since no action was taken against the accused, she filed a petition in the Madras High Court, which directed the Dharmapuri district administration to provide adequate protection to the petitioner.
Alleging that some Caste Hindus continued to harass her and her family members, the victim said she was also accused of attacking and abusing some men.
Though the issue was taken to the notice of government officials, they only acted in favour of the Caste Hindus, she alleged.
Published - November 29, 2013 03:31 am IST
