CHENNAI: The burnt autos stand as reminders of a day when many places in Chennai were up in flames. A day that many in Rutharpuram and Meenambal Street in Mylapore have not been able to forget. When news spread that heavy police were deployed on the Marina Beach, all those in the area located behind City Centre mall planned to vacate the place. Many in the locality say they were arrested, despite having no criminal record, and though they are now released on bail, these people live in fear as memories of January 23 haunt them.
For V Vijayakumar (27), a resident of Meenambal Street who was enjoying his weekly off, says the day was nothing short of a nightmare. He works as a helper with the Corporation garbage in Saidapet. He knew something was wrong when he saw countless policemen enter his area and started beating everybody. While trying to help his friend who was being beaten by the police, he was hit hard on his left hand and head.
“I fell down there,” Vijayakumar recounted. “Hours later I managed to get up and hid in the public toilet. I was there for more than six hours, bleeding, with a broken hand and head,” he told Express.
His family took him to the Royapettah Government Hospital where he said he was treated fast but that his name was not recorded in the hospital. The young man, however, says he has not committed any crime.
Dalit activist Bharathi Parbha said that during the Marina violence, police targeted Dalit areas like Rutharpuram, Meenambal Street, Mattan Kuppam and Nadukkuppam where a large number of Dalits and fishermen live. “Whenever any big riot happens anywhere, police pick up our men. Isn’t that an atrocity?” he questioned.
This is not an isolated incident.
The first house on Meenambal Street belongs to J George Rajkumar (26) who immediately locked all doors the moment he saw the police approaching. “Five policemen came into my house and broke the grill gate lock,” he said. “They beat me severely and took me to the Abhiramapuram police station where more policemen hit me.” After this, Rajkumar, who works at a private media company, was sent to Puzhal Prison and now released on bail. He says he has no crime record but the Abhiramapuram police have filed a murder attempt charge against him.
Women too were not spared. “For the last one week, the men in our area have not been staying at home at night,” said A Porkodi, who was also beaten by police. “We don’t know when the police will come to knock on our door.” She said one of the police women said that if she wanted to escape being beaten she should kneel down at the policeman’s feet. When she did, she was only given a lathi on her back.
Age too was no bar when it came to the violence. A 60-year-old woman, who was physically challenged, says she was forcibly dragged off the bike by the police and thrown on the road at the City Centre junction.
“I finished my work and was picked up by my son S Raja (30) who came on his motorcycle,” explained R Dhana Lakshmi, (60) another resident of Meenaambal Street. When we reached the City Centre junction, police stopped us and dragged me off the back seat and threw me on the road.”
That was not all.
Dhana Lakshmi tearfully remembered how they beat up her son after that, snatched his mobile phone and took him on his bike to the Abiramapuram police.
“I work as an operator in the Metro Water service. I have not committed any crime in my life,” S Raja said. “Police beat me up severely at the station and then remanded me. I just got home on bail and even though I have asked about my recently bought bike, the police aren’t giving me a response.”
“Rutharpuram, Meenambal Street and the areas nearby are where many Dalits live,” stated Dalit activist, Bharathi Parbha. “I took the list of those injured along with details of the person and the areas and plan to send it to the human rights and SC/ST Commission.” He added that during the riots, people from these areas were attacked by wooden trees and not lathis.