The Chief Minister's statement in the Assembly on the Paramakudi firing incident is condemnable as it was nothing but a police report in which there was not a single word of sympathy for the loss of life of six Dalits, said K. Krishnasamy, president, Puthiya Tamilagam, on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference here, Dr. Krishnasamy said that for long there was an anti-Dalit psyche prevailing among the police. It had now reached a crescendo.
The police report had given a communal/caste colour to the incident by referring to a wall writing, but that was not the case. It was an attempt to divert the human rights violation by the police. “We demand that the remarks referring to the wall graffiti should be expunged from the Assembly records.”
The Chief Minister was misled by some police officers, he said. The PT leader also alleged that the whole episode was orchestrated by some police officials to create animosity between two castes which are huge in number in the southern districts.
It was not even four months since the new government assumed office and the lives of six Dalits were lost in police firing. If this trend continued, it would lead to a precarious situation.
He demanded the immediate suspension of police officials involved in the shootout and in line with the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989 and Rules 1995, Rs.5 lakh should be given as compensation for the families of the victims along with a government job.
He wanted a sitting High Court Judge to conduct an enquiry.
He alleged that the police had not followed riot control procedures before resorting to firing. Most of the bullet injuries were above the waist.
PT wanted the anniversary to be declared a government function as Immanuel stood as a Dalit icon. He was a freedom fighter who served the Army and died a martyr for social justice for Dalits.
Later, Dr. Krishnasamy visited the Government Rajaji Hopsital and met the injured victims.
