MADURAI: A 23-year-old caste Hindu was arrested on Monday and a case registered against 10 caste Hindus under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, in Sattur near Peraiyur on Monday, for allegedly attacking a Dalit youth for bursting crackers during a temple festival. The accused has been identified as P Alexpandian (23) of Salupapatti village near Sattur, said a police source.
The source said on Sunday evening, a group of Dalit families went to Salupapatti in Kudicherri village to attend a festival at the Sellandi Amman Temple.
Apparently, when the group of Dalits burst crackers, it disturbed cattle belonging to caste Hindu Anandhan. This led to a heated altercation between the Dalits and some caste Hindus, said the source. C Pandishwaran (19) of Kudicherri village was reportedly attacked.
Based on a complaint by Pandishwaran, the Sattur Police registered a case and arrested Alexpandian.
On the basis of another complaint, two Dalits, P Muthupandi (32) and P Sundaram (40) of Kudicherri, were arrested and registered a case against nine others for allegedly attacking a caste Hindu. Police said Anandhan claimed that during the festival, there was an altercation over an old issue and 11 Dalits attacked them.