DHARMAPURI: A day after six Natham Colony residents were arrested with weapons for alleged Naxal link, locals claimed that the police action was part of a plot to prevent them from observing the first death anniversary of Ilavarasan, a Dalit youth, on July 4. The villagers had earlier announced that they would observe it as ‘Caste Eradication Day.’
Tension was palpable in the area, even as security personnel in large numbers were deployed to keep the flaring tempers in check.
Meanwhile, a police team was keeping a close vigil on Sellankottai (Native place of Divya) to prevent any untoward incident.
Amid these developments, a group of Natham Colony residents rushed to Chennai to meet Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thirumavalavan.
Vanniarasu, spokesperson of VCK, said, “Natham residents met Thirumavalavan and deliberated on the next move.” VCK has decided to violate the prohibitory order to go ahead with the anniversary function, sources said.
On July 4, it would be one year since the death of Ilavarasan, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances near a railway track in the district.
A resident, on condition of anonymity, told Express, “It is a clear drama by the police. Once, Natham was the heartland of Naxal movement, but now no one has any connection with it. The entire district administration and police are trying to threaten us psychologically.”
Denying the allegations, the police said, “Durai, was arrested in 2002 under the POTA Act for Naxal activities and was in jail for four years. He received training from Maoist leader Kalidas,”