TIRUPUR: A group of Dalits from Kaarapalayam village, near Kangayam, filed a petition with the Uthiyur police on Sunday morning about being beaten up and abused along caste lines, and the local co-operative milk society run by caste Hindus refusing to sell them milk.
It was also alleged that Dalit women, who do not have toilets in their houses, were prevented from going to relieve themselves on Saturday night. Besides, the Dalits have been asked not to work in the fields owned by caste Hindus.
There are some 30 Dalit families and 50 caste Hindus families in the village. The incidents began on Friday night with a Dalit, Sasikumar (20), being beaten up two caste Hindu youth in the village. In a complaint to the police, Sasikumar alleged that the two – K Tamilselvan, of the same village, and S Makesh, of Sammanthampalayam – had thrashed him after a verbal altercation.
Makesh is a member of the caste outfit Kongu Ilaingar Peravai and a schoolmate of Sasikumar.
According to the petition, the two caste Hindu youth had parked a two-wheeler blocking the path along which Sasikumar was riding his motorcycle. When Sasikumar asked them to move it, they told him to go back and also took away his vehicle’s key. When he resisted, he was beaten and abused using casteist slurs. Sasikumar’s relatives, who intervened, were also beaten up and abused.
On Sunday evening, during talks facilitated by the police, elders of the caste Hindu community agreed to solve the issue amicably and to provide access to the Dalits in the village. However, the two caste Hindu youth did not turn up at the police station for the peace talks.
Meanwhile, a senior police official told Express that it was a personal issue and that it had been settled.
However, Sasikumar told Express he had never had any personal problems with the two youth. He said he would not give up until case is registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against them.