VILLUPURAM: Tension continued to prevail at Seshasamudram village, which was rocked by a caste clash a fortnight ago, with two more thatched roofed houses, belonging to two Dalit siblings, gutted after petrol bombs were hurled by miscreants on Monday night. So far, that is, since the weeks-old clash, 10 houses have been reduced to ashes.
Victims claims their house were burned down as they had given interviews to the TV channels and other mediapersons regarding the caste clash that had broken out between the Dalits and Vanniyars over the temple car procession on August 15.
According to Karuppan (55), one of the victims, he and his two sons Govindhaswami (35) and Chandran (29), along with their wives and children, were living in the two thatched roofed houses located near the lake at Seshasamudram village.
When the riots broke out, the family members moved to their relative’s house at Nedumanur village, about 2 km away from Seshasamudram.
The next day when mediapersons rushed to the village, Chandran and Govindhasami, who witnessed the clash, had given interviews on the atrocities of the Vanniyar community on the policemen and Dalits.
Sources said around 8.30 pm on Monday, some unidentified men hurled petrol bombs on the two houses and a cow-shed apparently to avenge those who had given media interviews, and fled the spot.
Fortunately, none of the family members sustained injuries as they had been to Nedumanur village, apprehending danger in Seshasamudram village.
Household goods, including `10,000 in cash, two television sets, mixers, grinders and important documents such as land pattas, ration cards were reportedly destroyed in the fire.
Sasikela (27), wife of Chandran, said, “After my husband gave an interview to TV channels, some of the Vanniyars stopped my husband on the way to his farm and issued death threats to him. If anything happens to my husband or my family, the Vanniyars are to blame.”
When contacted, personnel, attached to the Sankarapuram Police Station, said, “We are not sure how this incident occurred when security was tightened in the village.” They further said those involved in the attack would be arrested soon.
General secretary of VCK Sinthani Selvam condemned the continuous attacks on Dalits and requested the district police to give additional protection to them.
Sugarcane Field Gutted
Minutes after the two more Dalit houses were set ablaze, a nearby sugarcane grove belonging to M Venkatesan (41) a Vanniyar, was reported gutted in fire.
While Vanniyars alleged Dalits had torched the grove in order take revenge, police suspect the fire might have spread from the torched houses.