Police warn of stern action against untouchability
Villoor deserted after police action against caste Hindus
There was an eerie silence in Villoor on Monday, as almost all the streets of caste Hindus wore a deserted look. Shops and houses (except one or two) remained locked and there was no male member in the village, following police action against them for involvement in attacks against Dalits and police personnel.
Fifty-three members belonging to a Backward Class of Villoor under Peraiyur taluk near Tirumangalam have been arrested under various sections and eight cases were booked against them following their attempt to attack Superintendent of Police Asra Garg and also for attacking police personnel, damaging police vehicles and the K3 police station on Sunday night. Twelve policemen were injured in the attack and a few houses of Dalits were damaged.
Speaking to The Hindu at Villoor police station on Monday, the Inspector General of Police (South Zone), M. N. Manjunatha, said untouchability practised in any form would be tackled with an iron hand and the police administration was serious about it. He recalled that trouble started when some caste Hindu youths beat up a Dalit youth G. Thangapandian (24) for riding his motorcycle through the Kaliamman Temple arch late on Saturday night.
Following this, Thangapandian filed a complaint and as directed by Mr. Garg, the Villoor police, after investigation, registered cases and arrested five caste Hindus of the same village. A peace meeting was held by both revenue and police officials. Mr. Garg stating that untouchability in any form would not be tolerated by the custodians of law appealed to them to maintain peace and live cordially.
However, a large group of caste Hindus started attacking the dwellings of Dalits when electricity went off. When police intervened, they started throwing stones at them. Later, they gathered near the police station and attacked their vehicles. When they attempted to attack the SP and his special party, Mr. Garg opened fire and P. Kalimuthu (18) was injured. Teargas shells were fired to bring the situation under control. S. Muthiah and A. Palani were injured in the lathicharge. All the injured have been admitted to the Government Rajaji hospital where their condition is stable.
Forms of untouchability
The Hindu had reported that there existed a peculiar practice of untouchability (Dalits of Villoor face peculiar problem, September, 16, 2010) that they were not allowed to ride two-wheelers along the streets of caste Hindus. Those who defy these norms are being attacked and ostracised by the dominant caste in the village. The villagers and a shopkeeper on the street had already said that the practice had been there for a long time.
“Earlier, things were worse. If Dalit men wore ‘veshti' (dhoti), they would immediately pull it out and take it away. Dress being an important marker of caste, the Dalits here were informed how to wear and how not to wear clothes,” an elderly woman Murugammal said. “Even in tea shops we are served tea in separate stainless steel tumblers which we have to wash ourselves every time we use them. We cannot sit in front of them in bus shelters; no pathway is there to approach the graveyard and we have to use circuitous routes even in an emergency situation.”
The most affluent Dalit family in the village is that of G.Murugan, brother of Thangapandian, who owns land, tractor and a house. His brother had completed teacher training and spent most of his time in urban living conditions and this invited the wrath of caste Hindus.
In fact, two routes, Eastern Puliyampatti Vilakku and Maravapatti, were identified by the Revenue Department for Dalits. Since it could not solve the real problem, they abandoned the idea. The village has a major population of a dominant OBC caste and Dalits are miniscule in number. They are secluded in the eastern part of the village (Kizhakku Theru). Most of the Dalits are part of agricultural labour force and a few among them are engaged in making broomsticks during off season.
DIG of Police (Dindigul Range) Sanjay Mathur is on the spot and a posse of 600 police personnel from all the southern districts, including two TSP battalions, are deployed in the village.
Source: The Hindu Dt 03.05.2011
In a release issued by its executive director Henri Tipaghne on Tuesday, the organisation has made the following demands to the district administration and police authorities.
Various practices of untouchability such as two-tumbler system in tea shops and denial of permission to ride two-wheelers on public pathways should be eradicated completely by taking stringent action.
Since the village has many forms of untouchability, the administration under SC/ST POA, 1989 should declare the village as prone to atrocities and take necessary action.
Externment powers under Sections 11, 12, 13, of SC/ST POA ACT should be used against members of dominant caste who are most likely to commit an offence because Dalits, a minority in the village, are living under perennial fear that they could be attacked at any point of time.
Mr. Tiphagne opined that externment power has been underutilised by the State and it should be used in cases such as this to protect the oppressed.
Pat for police
The organisation appreciated the police officials for taking immediate action against the perpetrators of untouchability.
Efforts like this to exterminate caste-based atrocities are needed and this could instil confidence among the Dalits and oppressed about the State machinery
Source: The Hindu Dt 04.05.2011
— Photo: S. James
Villoor deserted after police action against caste Hindus
There was an eerie silence in Villoor on Monday, as almost all the streets of caste Hindus wore a deserted look. Shops and houses (except one or two) remained locked and there was no male member in the village, following police action against them for involvement in attacks against Dalits and police personnel.
Fifty-three members belonging to a Backward Class of Villoor under Peraiyur taluk near Tirumangalam have been arrested under various sections and eight cases were booked against them following their attempt to attack Superintendent of Police Asra Garg and also for attacking police personnel, damaging police vehicles and the K3 police station on Sunday night. Twelve policemen were injured in the attack and a few houses of Dalits were damaged.
Speaking to The Hindu at Villoor police station on Monday, the Inspector General of Police (South Zone), M. N. Manjunatha, said untouchability practised in any form would be tackled with an iron hand and the police administration was serious about it. He recalled that trouble started when some caste Hindu youths beat up a Dalit youth G. Thangapandian (24) for riding his motorcycle through the Kaliamman Temple arch late on Saturday night.
Following this, Thangapandian filed a complaint and as directed by Mr. Garg, the Villoor police, after investigation, registered cases and arrested five caste Hindus of the same village. A peace meeting was held by both revenue and police officials. Mr. Garg stating that untouchability in any form would not be tolerated by the custodians of law appealed to them to maintain peace and live cordially.
However, a large group of caste Hindus started attacking the dwellings of Dalits when electricity went off. When police intervened, they started throwing stones at them. Later, they gathered near the police station and attacked their vehicles. When they attempted to attack the SP and his special party, Mr. Garg opened fire and P. Kalimuthu (18) was injured. Teargas shells were fired to bring the situation under control. S. Muthiah and A. Palani were injured in the lathicharge. All the injured have been admitted to the Government Rajaji hospital where their condition is stable.
Forms of untouchability
The Hindu had reported that there existed a peculiar practice of untouchability (Dalits of Villoor face peculiar problem, September, 16, 2010) that they were not allowed to ride two-wheelers along the streets of caste Hindus. Those who defy these norms are being attacked and ostracised by the dominant caste in the village. The villagers and a shopkeeper on the street had already said that the practice had been there for a long time.
“Earlier, things were worse. If Dalit men wore ‘veshti' (dhoti), they would immediately pull it out and take it away. Dress being an important marker of caste, the Dalits here were informed how to wear and how not to wear clothes,” an elderly woman Murugammal said. “Even in tea shops we are served tea in separate stainless steel tumblers which we have to wash ourselves every time we use them. We cannot sit in front of them in bus shelters; no pathway is there to approach the graveyard and we have to use circuitous routes even in an emergency situation.”
The most affluent Dalit family in the village is that of G.Murugan, brother of Thangapandian, who owns land, tractor and a house. His brother had completed teacher training and spent most of his time in urban living conditions and this invited the wrath of caste Hindus.
In fact, two routes, Eastern Puliyampatti Vilakku and Maravapatti, were identified by the Revenue Department for Dalits. Since it could not solve the real problem, they abandoned the idea. The village has a major population of a dominant OBC caste and Dalits are miniscule in number. They are secluded in the eastern part of the village (Kizhakku Theru). Most of the Dalits are part of agricultural labour force and a few among them are engaged in making broomsticks during off season.
DIG of Police (Dindigul Range) Sanjay Mathur is on the spot and a posse of 600 police personnel from all the southern districts, including two TSP battalions, are deployed in the village.
Source: The Hindu Dt 03.05.2011
Villoor issue: rights forum for employing
externment powers
City-based human rights organisation, Peoples Watch, has condemned the attack against Dalits by caste Hindus and also demanded action against perpetrators who practice untouchability under various sections of the Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989.
In a release issued by its executive director Henri Tipaghne on Tuesday, the organisation has made the following demands to the district administration and police authorities.
Various practices of untouchability such as two-tumbler system in tea shops and denial of permission to ride two-wheelers on public pathways should be eradicated completely by taking stringent action.
Since the village has many forms of untouchability, the administration under SC/ST POA, 1989 should declare the village as prone to atrocities and take necessary action.
Externment powers under Sections 11, 12, 13, of SC/ST POA ACT should be used against members of dominant caste who are most likely to commit an offence because Dalits, a minority in the village, are living under perennial fear that they could be attacked at any point of time.
Mr. Tiphagne opined that externment power has been underutilised by the State and it should be used in cases such as this to protect the oppressed.
Pat for police
The organisation appreciated the police officials for taking immediate action against the perpetrators of untouchability.
Efforts like this to exterminate caste-based atrocities are needed and this could instil confidence among the Dalits and oppressed about the State machinery
Source: The Hindu Dt 04.05.2011
— Photo: S. James
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