THANJAVUR: Tension continued at Sanoorappatti after caste-Hindus targeted small business enterprises run by Dalits following an altercation. The Dalits retaliated by attacking a tea-shop run by caste-Hindus.
According to sources, there was simmering discontent between a Dalit and a caste-Hindu youth and the former had lodged a complaint with the Sengippatti police, which was allegedly not acted upon.
On Monday night, an altercation broke out in a hotel between Elakkiyavendhan of Palayappatti, an auto driver belonging to the Dalit community, and Lakshmanan, a caste-Hindu. On Tuesday night, a group of caste-Hindus armed with iron rods, wooden logs and bottles attacked the auto stand where Elakkiyavendhan used to park his vehicle and started damaging the autos. Later the gang rampaged a printing press owned by a Dalit, Arunagiri. Further, a tailoring shop owned by J Chandrabose (39), a dalit of Sengippatti was also damaged.
In the attack, Chandrabose and K Tamilarasan (40) of Sengippatti were injured and rushed to the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital.
As news about the attacks spread, a group of Dalits bagan to retaliate and vandalised a tea shop run by a caste-Hindu. In this attack, K Apparasu (46) of Palayakariappatti, T Ramasamy of Manayerippatti, S Muruganandam, K Ramkumar (19) of Pudhu Kariyappatti, Senthilkumar, all from the caste-Hindu community were injured and admitted to a private hospital in Thanjavur. Following this, all the shops in Sanoorappatti Bazaar were shut before their usual closing time.
The Sengippatti police registered three cases. In two cases, the police invoked various sections of Indian Penal Code and the sections of the SC, ST (prevention of atrocities) Act. In the counter complaint given by a caste-Hindu person, the police registered a case under various sections of Indian Penal Code including 307 (attempt to murder) against dalits. Police personnel have been deployed at Palayappatti, Kariyappatti, Sengippatti and Sanoorappatti to avoid further untoward incidents. T Senthilkumar, DIG of Thanjavur range, J Mahesh, Superintendent of Police, Thanjavur visited the spot and held inquiries.