THOOTHUKUDI/KARUR: A 21-year-old Dalit youth was physically and verbally abused by three caste Hindus after he asked the trio to move out of the road and give way for his car to proceed at Ubakaramathapuram Junction near Thattarmadam in Thoothukudi district on Monday.
The Dalit youth identified as Maharajan, a farmer by profession and son of Esakkiappan of Ubakaramathapuram. He was into his family profession of agriculture. On Monday, he was going to Tirunelveli in a car with his family members on a personal work.
While the car in which Maharajan was travelling neared Ubakaramathapuram junction, three caste Hindus, Kumar, Ganesan and Murugaiah, were standing in the middle of the road. They were involved in a discussion among themselves obstructing the movement of vehicles. So, Maharajan and his car driver had asked them to move away from the road and give way for the car.
This infuriated the three caste Hindus. The trio started verbally abusing the family members of Maharajan calling them by their caste name.
When Maharajan questioned them, the trio pulled Maharajan out of the car and started attacking him with rods.
In the incident, Maharajan sustained serious injuries on his left hand, stomach and in some parts of the body.
Maharajan was immediately rushed to the Tirunelveli government hospital. Based on the complaint of Maharajan a case was registered at Thattarmadam police station against the caste Hindu trio under section 294(b), 323,324, 341 of IPC and under section 3 (1)(X) of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Meanwhile, in Karur district, police booked three persons under the Prevention of Atrocities Against SC/ST Act and 12 Dalits under various sections on Tuesday in connection with a group clash that took place a couple of days ago.
According to police, Ganesh, a Dalit and Thirumalaisami of a dominant caste, both from Soundrapuram of Velambadi panchayat near Pallappatti had picked up a quarrel on Monday.
Both had exchanged derogatory remarks using caste names, which incited several others to back the fight.
Tension prevailed in the area. However, police officials had intercepted and took the situation under control, preventing the break out of communal clash.
Ganesh, Thirumalaisami and others had sustained injuries and were admitted to the Pallappatti Government Hospital and Aravakurichi Government Hospital respectively.
Based on a complaint lodged by Ramachandran, police had booked three, Gopal alias Nandagopal, Thirumalaisami and Kumar under SC/ST Act.
On the complaint lodged by the Nandagopal, Aravakurichi police booked ten persons including Ganesh, Danapal, Balan alias Subramanian, Raja, Vetri, Muruganand, Kalaiarasan, Appasetu, Prabhu and Ramachandran under various acts. They are also on the look out for two others.