On November 7th, 2012 three Dalits colonies of Naikkankottai village of Dharmapuri district were torched by a mob of caste Hindus after an upper caste man allegedly committed suicide over his daughter’s marriage to a Dalit boy.
Victims alleged that it was an organized attack by the mob consisting of nearly 1200-1500 people aimed at destroying the property of Dalits who were economically doing well.
Though police were stationed outside the villages after the couple had sought police protection, the rampage went on for nearly four hours before extra police forces were deployed to bring the situation in control.
YouthKiAwaaz.com’s Amritapa Basu visited Naikkankottai seven days later on November 14th, 2012. Here is a collection of photographs that tell the story of the situation in the three colonies of the village.