A Dalit couple whose house was torched by caste Hindus on May 4, submitted a petition with the collector to initiate action against the culprits as the police failed to take any action against them so far.
According to A S Palanisamy (55) a Dalit of South Thraniampatti in Musiri practicing Siddha medicine in the locality, he was residing in a thatched roofed house in a piece of five cents land in a area where most of the residents belonged to caste Hindus.
Palanisamy claimed that the caste Hindus intended to drive his family away from their area and so they started to quarrel with him on trivial issues since 2009. On October 2, 2009, a group of caste Hindus quarrelled with Palanisamy and his wife Chandra that snowballed into an assault in which Chandra sustained bruises. She had to undergo surgery for her injuries.
Palanisamy lodged a complaint with the Musiri police station, Musiri DSP, Superintendent of police and the collector. But no action was initiated against the culprits.
Meanwhile, the information about the police complaint reached the caste Hindus and they tried to assault him. On May 3, 2013, another quarrel broke out. At around 2.30 am the same night, while the members were fast asleep, a group of men torched his house. Soon the inmates of the house raised alarm but no one came to rescue them. Later, they managed to come out of the house that was reduced to ashes.
Palanisamy lost his household articles, cash of `40,000, palm scripts and other valuables in the fire. Since no action was initiated against the culprits so far, Palanisamy again approached the collector to do the needful.