Residents of Dalit hamlets and caste Hindu villages in Naickenkottai expressed anger over the perceived apathy of State Higher Education Minister P Palaniyappan in initiating attempts at restoring harmony in the area after it witnessed caste violence on November 7.
Palaniyappan represents the Pappireddipatti assembly constituency, which also covers Naickenkottai. Palaniyappan had visited the violence-affected villages on November 9 to commence temporary relief measures for 268 Dalit families whose homes were attacked by a caste Hindu mob. The residents alleged that the minister did not console the Dalit victims and merely distributed aid of `50,000 to each family. In contrast, the villagers said several political parties and fact-finding teams from other districts and neighbouring states had visited the affected localities and provided aid.
The villagers claimed that if Palaniyappan had initiated similar measures to restore normalcy in Naickenkottai, there would have been no need to impose Section 144 in the area.