Three of family arrested in connection with attack on Dalit men

The Tirupur North police have arrested three persons in connection with the brutal attack on Dalit men on Friday.

According to the police, P. Maheshwaran (23) and his relative Marimuthu (33), of Pattatharasiamman Koil Street, in Mannarai area in Tirupur were working in a local hosiery industry.

When both of them them were returning home on a two-wheeler on Friday via Pavadikkal Street in Mannarai, it is said that autorickshaw driver K. Ajith (22) and his brother K. Parthiban were talking after parking their vehicle on the middle of the road.

It is alleged that the duo got angry when the Dalit men pleaded to give way by moving the auto on to the side of the road.

Iron rod

They are said to have thrashed the Dalit men and started attacking them with an iron rod, abusing them with their caste name. The father of the duo Kumar also came out of the house and started abusing and attacking the men.

Later, they also damaged their two- wheeler.

The grievously injured Dalit men were rushed to the Tirupur Government Hospital.

On the basis of a complaint lodged by the Dalit men, Tirupur North Police have registered a case under sections 294 (b) (obscene act), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons) of Indian Penal Code and under sections 2 (1) (r), 3 (1) (s) and 3 (2) (va) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act 2015 and arrested the three persons, said Inspector Syed.

Those arrested were produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody, police sources said.

Office-bearers of Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front and its district secretary S. Nandagopal met the injured Dalit men at the hospital.