The discovery of the body of a Dalit college student, who went missing on December 12 after he reportedly confronted the family of the Vanniyar girl with whom he was having a relationship, in Sathamangalam village near Chidambaram on Wednesday sparked mob violence that saw some houses going up in flames and road rokos by the VCK.
Gopalakrishnan, 20, had gone to the house of Durga, a BCA student of the same college in Srimushnam, on December 12 as her parents had admonished her on hearing about their relationship.
Since he did not return home, his father, C Mayak-rishnan of Senninatham village, lodged a complaint with police on December 14 and sent representations to top police officers. When his habeas corpus writ petition came up for hearing on Monday, the Madras High Court was told that Gopalakrishnan was dead.
The discovery of the body amidst paddy fields evoked anger in his village as there was widespread concern ever since he went missing. An irate crowd set ablaze the house of Durga’s relative Ramamurthy in nearby Velliyakudi village and the fire gutted two neighbouring houses too.
Meanwhile, VCK members rushed to Sathamangalam to hold a protest. Road blocks at Kumarakudi, Pinnalur and Sethiathope, all villages within a five km radius, caused traffic snarls.