Tirunelveli, a district with a rich heritage and a civilization dating back 3,200 years, as revealed by recent carbon dating analysis of the Porunai civilization, was once a beacon of cultural and civilizational ethos. However, it appears to have succumbed to casteism and its associated conflicts. The alarming rise in caste-based violence, particularly revenge killings between dominant castes and Dalits, highlights a grim reality that cannot be overlooked.
What is even more disheartening is the involvement of students and the younger generation, who are internalizing and glorifying such violence as a form of pride. This troubling trend has been further fueled by the influence of social media and reels culture, where youth idolize rowdies and criminals. Creating reels to celebrate these individuals and identifying themselves as part of their “army” paints a dire picture of the youth’s current state and priorities in the region.
A recent RTI response from the police has revealed a concerning rise in murders across Tirunelveli district. According to the data, a total of 240 murders have been recorded—58 in Tirunelveli city and 182 in the district’s suburban areas. Among these, one was identified as an honor killing, 45 were premeditated murders, and 16 were caste-based killings.
The report also indicates that 887 individuals have been arrested in connection with murder cases across the district, with 335 of them detained under the Goondas Prevention Act. This includes 92 individuals from the metropolitan area and 243 from suburban regions. Notably, only seven suspects remain absconding in cases from the suburban areas, while all suspects in the metropolitan area have been apprehended.
Furthermore, the RTI disclosed that 48 minors have been implicated in murder cases, with 42 of them arrested from suburban areas. Police sources attribute the rising involvement in murders to young individuals, particularly those under the age of 25. This troubling trend underscores the need for urgent interventions to address the root causes of violence and its alarming grip on the region’s youth.
A Grim Cycle Of Violence Pattern Of Revenge Killings In Tirunelveli District
For example, the district of Tirunelveli, particularly the areas around Gopalasamudram near Munneerpallam, has been marred by a disturbing pattern of revenge killings rooted in caste conflicts.
In 2010, tensions escalated between two groups after a flagpole associated with a caste was damaged, leading to clashes. The violence resurfaced in October 2013 when Dharmaraj, a 27-year-old from the Devendra Kula Vellalar community, was brutally hacked to death near Gopalasamudram.
In retaliation, Karthik, a member of another community, was murdered days later, prompting police to make arrests on both sides. However, the cycle of vengeance continued as a gang killed Manthiram in retaliation for Karthik’s murder.
In September 2021, the violence intensified further when 38-year-old Sankara Subramanian was hacked to death in Vazhuvurpatti, and his severed head was placed on the tomb of Manthiram. This act of brutality sparked yet another revenge killing on 15 September 2021, when 35-year-old Mariyappan was murdered and beheaded.
These incidents caused widespread tension in at least eight villages, including Pirancheri, Gopalasamudram, and Kothankulam, with clashes between the two castes fueling ongoing unrest.
The violence continued with the recent murder of Manikandan (28) from Keezhacheval, who was attacked by three men after purchasing liquor at a Tasmac shop near Melapalayam. This killing was also a revenge act tied to the prior caste conflict.
Subsequently, two of the accused murderers, both named Anandaraj, along with their associate Maharajan, surrendered in the Tirunelveli court. Notably, Anandaraj’s father, Manthiram, had been a previous victim in this violent cycle, and his murder prompted his son to seek vengeance by killing Manikandan. With this marks the sixth murder in the ongoing series of retaliatory killings, further exacerbating tensions in Munneerpallam, Gopalasamudram, and the surrounding areas.
Decades Of Caste Feud And Revenge – Pannaiyars Vs Pasupathi Pandian
The feud between the Pannaiyars and Dalit leader Pasupathi Pandian spans over two decades, rooted in caste pride and a cycle of vengeance.
The conflict began in 1993 with the murder of Asupathi Pannaiyar, father of Subash Pannaiyar, from Moolakkarai near Srivaikuntam. Pasupathi Pandian was the prime accused in this killing, allegedly carried out to retaliate against the harassment faced by Dalit workers on Asupathi’s farmlands.
At the time of his father’s murder, Subash was a first-year law student at Salem Law College. He dropped out soon after and joined his cousin, Venkatesh Pannaiyar, to pursue a bloody vendetta. Together, they made numerous unsuccessful attempts to eliminate Pasupathi, only managing to target his associates.
In 2003, Venkatesh was killed in a police encounter in Chennai, leaving Subash to take the reins of the All India Nadar Padhukapu Peravai, a caste-based organization his cousin had founded. Subash and his gang allegedly orchestrated the murder of Pasupathi’s wife, Jacintha, in 2006 and Pasupathi himself in 2012.
Pasupathi Pandian, hailing from Alangarathattu near Thoothukudi, was no stranger to notoriety. Accused in his first murder case while still in high school, he dropped out and gained infamy during the 1990s. Police records link him to eight murder cases and numerous attempts to kill.
Both Subash and Pasupathi had political affiliations that further fueled their influence. While Subash focused on the Nadar outfit established by his cousin, Venkatesh’s widow, Radhika Selvi, became an active member of the DMK. Meanwhile, Pasupathi initially joined the PMK, a Vanniyar-dominated party, where he rose to State Secretary of the youth wing. However, he later left to form the Federation of Devendrakula Vellalars, a Dalit organization. Pasupathi also played a pivotal role in introducing Dr. K. Krishnasamy, founder of Puthiya Tamilagam, to politics. This prolonged feud, deeply intertwined with caste identity and political rivalry, reflects the enduring and destructive impact of caste-based divisions in the region.
Deepak Raja Revenge Killing
The cycle of caste-based revenge killings in Tirunelveli continues with the recent death of Deepak Raja, a Dalit figure and history-sheeter. On 20 May 2024, Deepak Raja was brutally attacked by an unidentified gang in broad daylight near a restaurant in KTC Nagar, Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu. The 30-year-old was ambushed by six armed individuals and succumbed to his injuries on the spot.
The Palayamkottai police filed a First Information Report (FIR) under multiple sections of the law, including provisions from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Deepak Raja, who had several pending criminal cases against him, was known to be an associate of rowdy Muthu Mano, a fellow history-sheeter who had been beaten to death inside the Palayamkottai Central Prison.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Deepak Raja’s murder may be a retaliatory act linked to the killing of Muthu Mano. City Police Commissioner Pa Moorthy has formed six specialized teams to track down the attackers. So far, eight individuals have been arrested, and efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining suspects.
The incident occurred in a busy area near the KTC Nagar flyover. As Deepak Raja parked his vehicle and approached a nearby restaurant, the armed gang intercepted and hacked him to death on the spot.
This latest killing underscores the persistent violence and deep-rooted caste tensions in the region, further fueling a cycle of vengeance that has gripped the district.
Recent Revenge Killing And The Rise Of Alarming Reels Culture
On 21 December 2024, a 25-year-old man, S. Mayandi, was brutally murdered near the Tirunelveli district court gate by a seven-member gang. This incident was reportedly an act of retaliation, tied to a cycle of caste-based revenge killings that has plagued the region.
Mayandi, a resident of Keezhanatham village and belonging to an intermediate caste, was allegedly killed by seven men from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community in response to the 2023 murder of SC panchayat ward member N. Rajamani, also from Keezhanatham.
According to police, Mayandi had come to the court to attend a hearing related to a criminal case against him. While dining at a nearby Annapoorna Hotel, he was pursued by a gang armed with weapons. Attempting to escape, he ran toward the court campus, but the attackers caught up with him. Special Sub-Inspector (SSI) Uikkattan managed to apprehend one assailant, M. Ramakrishnan (25), but another gang member cornered Mayandi near the court gate and fatally attacked him.
The killing was allegedly in retaliation for Rajamani’s murder on 13 August 2023. Rajamani was attacked and killed by a group from the intermediate caste while tending to his goats. His death led to significant unrest, with SC residents staging protests and demanding justice. Mayandi was arrested in connection with the murder and detained under the Goondas Act on the recommendation of Superintendent of Police N. Silambarasan.
Following Mayandi’s death, police arrested six individuals, including Rajamani’s brother, N. Manoraj (27), and other SC residents of Keezhanatham. Additional police personnel were deployed across the city to prevent further violence.
Social Media Fueling Tensions
The murder has sparked a surge in inflammatory content on social media, particularly Instagram, with youths from both communities glorifying the killings and inciting communal tensions. The Tirunelveli Taluk police have registered multiple cases against individuals posting provocative content, which has only deepened the divide.
Superintendent of Police N. Silambarasan revealed that in 2024 alone, 27 cases were filed for posts inciting communal unrest, with arrests made in connection. In 2023, 49 similar cases were registered. Recently, a 24-year-old named Vallimuthu from Seevalaperi was arrested for posting inflammatory material.
This incident highlights the alarming trend of glorifying violence through social media. The reels culture, which glamorizes acts of revenge and criminal behavior, is exacerbating communal tensions and encouraging younger generations to perpetuate cycles of enmity. Authorities have intensified monitoring efforts, but the persistent rise in such cases reflects deep-seated issues of caste-based conflict and the troubling influence of social media.
Instead of going after old women venting out at the misgovernance of the ruling party, or those who put harmless memes on social media, it would do some good if the Tamil Nadu monitor those who put toxic casteist reels and take action against them.
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