(Image Source: Victim of caste attack in Namakkal district, via Facebook)
A Politically dominant Vanniyar family in Namakkal district has allegedly lashed out violence against their neighbour’s family by using casteist slur. The physical violence against Subramaniyan’s wife and children takes place on 26 December when he was at his workplace. Predators were allegedly carrying metals, heavy stones and wooden bars during the time of attack. Sources said that for the past two years, Predator’s family has been dumping garbage in front of Subramaniyan’s house. His is the only family residing in Moolaparai village in Namakkal district. There was a casteist dispute at the time of construction of their house.
While speaking with Subramaniyan, he told that predator’s family is engaging in witchcraft and continuously used to throw eggs, bones, pooja items at the doorstep. Victims said they have been receiving threatening words by highlighting their caste and questions “how can the Kuravan come here and build a car and live near my house?”.
(Image Source: Victim of the attack on December 26 at Namakkal , via Facebook)
Victims are injured internally and have admitted in Namakkal government hospital. They alleged that no action was taken by Jedarpalayam police station even after complaining about the atrocity. Affected family said, they have been continuously facing comments from Vanniyar community-based neighbors to leave the place because of their ‘Kuravar’ caste identity. Police reportedly told the victims to produce sufficient evidence to prove ‘this a caste atrocity’. Victims told that Police officials is not using SC/ ST prevention Act properly in the case.
Pandian Kamal, Executive Director of ‘WITNESS for Justice’ an anti-caste organization based in Madurai told that “Kuravar families are few in every villages in Tamil Nadu, they are minority. They are targeted for police atrocities. It is a one side of violence by the state. They don’t have any political voice. There is a common wall in between Subramaniyan’s and Shanti’s (alleged predator) house. In most of the days he and his family get threatening words from their Vanniyar community neighbours. Subramaniyan used to complaint in police station but they never take his complaint. Police forcefully used to compromise complaints in the name of caste by telling them they are the only Kuravar family residing in Moolaparai. It was a sequel of offences for last 2 years towards his family by Vanniyar neighbours.
(Image source : Culprit pelting stones, via Facebook)
(Image Source: Via Facebook, Witchcraft done by culprits)
“Even though there is a section in SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Amendment Act called 18 a, which says no preliminary investigation required for filing a First Information Report, Police says that they need proofs to file a case. And we are also mentioning about Presumption of Offences under the same act”. He said. Pandian is advocating for Subramanian’s family in the case. Till now no cases filed by police against culprits under SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act.
Caste based atrocities are reportedly increased fivefold during the Pandemic time in Tamil Nadu. Recently three were arrested for forcing Dalit boys to clean up excreta from open ground allegedly by caste Hindus. The latest NCRB data shows the conviction rate in offences under SC/ST Atrocities Act was 32% nationally and pendency rate of cases is alarming 94%.