Arunthathiyars demand murder accused to be detained under Goondas Act
The Hindu
Scheduled Caste residents protest in Nadupatti, demanding justice for targeted Arunthathiyars and implementation of various welfare measures.
Scheduled Caste residents of Nadupatti where one of their community persons was hacked to death on May 6, staged a demonstration in front of Dindigul Collectorate seeking to detain the caste Hindus under the Goondas Act.
The protest was led by A. Thangapandi.
The protesters said that caste Hindus have been targetting the Arunthathiyars in the village for several years. Despite the promise of former Collector to take action against the perpetrators, no action has been taken even after passing of several months.
In his petition addressed to the Dindigul Collector, Mr. Thangapandi said that following a murderous attack on few Arunthathiyar youths of the village over a quarrel between the youths of the two groups on harassing an SC girl, police picketing was deployed in the village on May 6.
However, despite the presence of the police personnel, an armed gang hacked to death Andar on the same night.
A case of murder and under the provisions of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was registered. The Collector should take efforts to provide compensation to the affected family under the SC/ST (POA) Act. One of the family members should be given a government job.
The agitators also sought installation of closed-circuit television cameras in every street in the village and set up a police outpost in the dwelling area of Arunthathiyars to prevent any further attack.
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