Two Dalit headmasters were assaulted by a group of persons for allegedly interacting with a woman belonging to another religion at R S Mangalam on Friday.
The police said Vasantha Kumar, of Gurunipacherry village, was the headmaster of an elementary school at Nokkankottai village while his friend Malairaj, of Seenankudi village, was the head master of Naganenthal elementary school.
The two teachers shared a house at R S Mangalam and both were friends with a woman belonging to another religion who lived nearby. On Friday evening, they visited her house to give her food items and medicines as she had been requested by her.
Meanwhile, a group of persons belonging to the woman’s community assembled in front of her house and protested their entry into her house. They allegedly attacked the two headmasters for interacting with her.
The duo sustained injuries and was rushed to the Ramanathapuram Government Hospital.
On Saturday morning, a large number of Dalits assembled at the R S Mangalam bus stand to protest the attack on the headmasters. As a counter, a big group from the other community too gathered at the same spot sparking off tension. Shops in the vicinity downed shutters in apprehension of a possible conflagration.
On information, a team of policemen headed by Mudukulathur Additional Superintendent of Police Vikaraman rushed to the spot and pacified the two groups and assured them to conduct an inquiry into the incident.
The crowd dispersed and business establishments opened and functioned as usual.
A large number of policemen were posted at R S Mangalam to ensure peace and two Deputy Superintendent of Police, Muralidharan and Mohanraj, were monitoring the situation.