Collector suspends Ottarpalayam Panchayat staff

Coimbatore Collector G.S. Sameeran on Monday suspended two Revenue Department staff in connection with an incident on August 7 at Ottarpalayam Panchayat that assumed caste overtones.Originally, after

Coimbatore Collector G.S. Sameeran on Monday suspended two Revenue Department staff in connection with an incident on August 7 at Ottarpalayam Panchayat that assumed caste overtones. Originally, after a video recording of a thandalkarar (village assistant) belonging to the Scheduled Caste, P. Muthusamy, falling at the feet of a dominant caste man Gopalsamy went viral, the Collector had ordered an inquiry. Later based on a complaint from Mr. Muthusamy, the Annur Police had arrested Mr. Gopalsamy. Subsequently, a second video showing Mr. Muthusamy assaulting Mr. Gopalsamy had surfaced. Following this, the Collector had on August 14 transferred Mr. Muthusamy and the Village Administrative Officer V. Kalaiselvi, who was in the office at the time of the incident. On Monday, he placed both of them under suspension.