MADURAI: Fearing an outbreak of communal violence in Villoor village at T Kallupatti union in Tirumangalam taluk in Madurai district, following a dispute over a Dalit riding a two-wheeler across the street of Caste Hindus on Sunday, a large posse of police personnel were deployed in the area.
Additional forces were also pressed into service after Asra Garg, SP, was forced to open fire in the air to disperse a rampaging mob, which even tried to attack the Superintendent of Police.
It may be recalled that G Thangapandian, a Dalit living in the village, was riding his motorcycle along the Kaliamman Kovil main street, an area which has been out of bounds for the Dalits for a long time. On noticing this, Caste Hindus, particularly those belonging to the Agamudaiyar community, prevented him from riding the two-wheeler. This led to an altercation and the issue was brought to the notice of the SP, and it led to the arrest of five persons belonging to the Agamudaiyar community.
When Madurai Superintendent of Police, Asra Garg, attempted to convene a peace committee to bring about a solution to the issue, a gang of Caste Hindus tried to attack Asra Garg.
In self defence, the SP was forced to open fire in the air in which three persons were injured. P Kalimuthu, suffered a bullet injury, while S Muthiah and A Pazhani were injured in the lathi charge. The three were admitted to Government Rajaji Hospital and the condition of all the three is said to be stable.
During this clash, the SP’s car was damaged. The windscreen and lights of the vehicle were broken. The houses of G Murugan, brother of Thangapandian, his uncle and also that of Thangapandian were attacked by the gang, but no one was injured, said Murugan.
On Sunday afternoon, f men and women cops strolled in the village and all the shops run by Caste Hindus were closed. Around 45 people belonging to the Agamudaiyar community were held, with eight cases being registered, said IG M N Manjunatha, South Zone.