In events that triggered violence in Naickenkottai village in Dharmapuri district in November last year and on Thursday lead to a Caste Hindu girl married to a Dalit boy choosing to go back to her maternal home, the girl, N Divya had eloped with E Elavarasan, a resident of Natham Colony in Naickenkottai and married him on October 24 last year.
Her father, who felt humiliated, committed suicide soon after. Shortly after his death, a Vanniyar mob vandalised the Dalit colony and set fire to over 250 houses. As many as 248 persons were arrested and the State Government sanctioned Rs 32 crore as compensation to the Dalits.
The violent incidents had revived communal politics in Tamil Nadu after a long gap with PMK leader S Ramadoss backing the Vanniyars and rallying an array of intermediate castes to campaign against inter-caste marriages involving Dalit grooms.
On Thursday, Divya appeared at the Madras High Court, accompanied by her mother Thenmozhi, for a hearing of an earlier habeas corpus petition that her mother had filed. After the court proceedings were over, Elavarasan’s mother Krishnaveni told reporters that she had considered Divya her daughter. “We looked after her very well since she came to our house. Thenmozhi visited our house and met Divya regularly. She also used to contact her over the phone. However, on Tuesday afternoon Divya left our house without intimation,” she said.
“We maintained cordial relations with her mother. But when we called Divya over the phone on Tuesday, she gave the handset to her mother. Thenmozhi told my son to forget Divya and switched off the mobile phone,” she added.
Elavarasan told Express that there was no problem between him and his wife till she disappeared without informing him. “We were happy and my family looked after her well,” he said, declining to talk further on the issue.
Because of the unwarranted attention he had invited, Elavarasan even lost an opportunity to join the Armed Reserve force as a constable.
Meanwhile, his counsel R Sankara Subbu told Express that there was no rift between the couple, as alleged in sections of the media. “Only the upper caste people are creating trouble. Divya has shunned Elavarasan only for the time being to avoid further communal tensions that may be created by her caste people.