MADURAI: A Dalit hotel owner at Usilampatti alleged that supporters of MLA Kathiravan ransacked his outlet for selling beef and pork.
Kasi (45) of Ariyapatti village in the district, runs a hotel named ‘Deva’, opposite the office of the Usilampatti MLA P V Kathiravan in Usilampatti.
Kasi said,“On December 2, supporters of the MLA came to his office for a meeting. They objected to the sale of beef and pork in my outlet located in front of MLA’s office. They also abused me referring to my caste and damaged my hotel,” alleged Kasi.
The hotel owner lodged a complaint against MLA Kathiravan and his supporters with the Usilampatti Town police seeking action under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Kasi also claimed that Kathiravan instigated his supporters to damage his shop.
Responding to this, Usilampatti DSP K Saravanakumar said that according to the investigating officer it was true that some persons had verbally abused Kasi demanding him to vacate the shop. But, MLA Kathiravan and his supporters were not involved in the issue.
According to the DSP, investigations revealed that Kasi had damaged the hotel himself and had lodged a complaint claiming that the MLA’s supporters had ransacked his outlet.
MLA Kathiravan was not available to comment on the issue.