THOOTHUKUDI: Owing to the fallout of caste clashes during a temple festival at Vadaku Konarkottai near Kayathar, 12 caste Hindus were booked for allegedly attacking Dalits, on Wednesday.
As part of the celebrations at Kommandi Amman and Pudhuveetu Amman temples on Tuesday night, Dalits of Vadaku Konarkottai carried germinated plants- Molapari- in a procession through Mettutheru inhabited by caste Hindus.
They also burst crackers in the street as part of revelry. As one of the crackers fell in front of a caste Hindu’s house, some caste Hindu youth pelting stones in retaliation. With some of them sustaining injuries in the attack, Dalits too hit back.
Police claimed that caste Hindus verbally abused the Dalits using the names of their castes.
However, owing to the intervention of the village elders, the Molapari procession continued unhindered.
Immediately, a police team headed by Kovilpatti ASP, Murali Ramba, rushed to the spot and carried out investigations.
Dalits too submitted a petition at the Kayathar Police station on Wednesday morning and demanded action against the Caste Hindus.
Following the probe Murali Ramba booked 12 Caste Hindus namley Mani, Murugan, Sangilipandi, Muthusamy, Murugan, Mahendiran, Veerapandi, Veilpandi, Murugan, Veeriah, Mahendiran and Vijayapandi under the Scheduled Castes/Tribes(Prevention of Atrocities) Act. on Mednesday afternoon.
Following the registration of the case against the caste Hindus , a peace committee meeting was conducted by officials of the revenue department during which caste Hindus promised not to attack Dalits in future.
Religious Outfits’ Members Booked for Hate Messages
A case has been registered against members of Hindu and Christian outfits for alleged hate messages against each other religions at Kurumbur on Wednesday. Police said that members of both tcommunities spoke ill of each other’s religion. Based on complaints from both sides, they were booked under 107 of IPC.