Tamil Nadu: Caste Hindus attack man for not mentioning 'Dalit colony' in invite

The victim's family was asked to prostrate before the caste Hindus for the mistake, his wife said.

A Dalit man was allegedly attacked by a group of caste Hindus for failing to mention in an invitation that he lived in the Dalit colony

PUDUKKOTTAI: A Dalit man was allegedly attacked by a group of caste Hindus for failing to mention in an invitation that he lived in the Dalit colony of Yethanadu village in the district, according to a petition submitted to the district collector on Monday.

Kala, wife of the victim, Arumugam (39), said, “My daughter’s puberty function was held on July 2. In the invitation, we had mentioned Yethanadu as our village. Five days after the function, one P Seenivasan (30) belonging to a caste-Hindu community confronted me at a petty shop and asked me why I did not specifically mention ‘Dalit colony’ of Yethanadu in the invitation.”

“Seenivasan told me that my family should prostrate before the caste Hindus for the mistake,” she said, adding that there was no previous enmity between her family and him.

Seenivasan also reportedly told Kala that the mere mention of the village name in the invitation would not clearly show the caste hierarchy.

Kala then narrated what happened after some days, “Last Wednesday, Seenivasan came to our house and picked up a quarrel with my husband. I thought the matter was over with that. But on Friday, he and three others came to our house with wooden logs and sharp weapons. They started attacking my husband and fled.”

Seenivasan sustained injuries on his head and hand and is receiving treatment at Pudukkottai government college hospital, she added.

Kala lodged a complaint with the Pudupatti police station. In her petition to the collector, she sought protection for her family and action against Seenivasan and other attackers.