News Tamil Nadu

Caste-Based Violence On The Rise In TN: Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Fame SC Singer Assaulted By MBC Youths

November 17, 2023
The Commune

On 15 November 2023, Malaiyur police arrested two individuals in connection with the assault on Prakash, a 26-year-old Dalit youth, in Pudukottai district on Sunday. Prakash became popular after he participated in the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa singing reality contest. The arrested individuals, Sarathi (23) and Deva (25) said to be from the Kallar (MBC) community, both residents of Athiran Viduthi village, were among the four accused who allegedly attacked Prakash and his cousin Kabilan.

The incident occurred near Meludaiyanpatti as Prakash and Kabilan were travelling home from Varappur on a two-wheeler on 12 November 2023. They were verbally abused with casteist slurs before being attacked with glass bottles and stones. Prakash sustained critical injuries and is undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital, while Kabilan, who was also injured, was discharged on 14 November 2023.

Following Prakash’s complaint, the Malaiyur police registered a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 294(b), 324, 341, and Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

The police have apprehended Sarathi and Deva, while the search continues for the remaining two accused involved in the assault.

This comes just days after a 16-year-old Dalit boy from Koppampatti village in Pudukottai district allegedly died by suicide, due to relentless assault and harassment by students from a dominant caste. The victim, V. Vishnukumar, a Class XI student at the Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Keeranur, faced persecution because of his interaction with a girl from the OBC community. The ongoing physical attacks and derogatory comments based on his caste reportedly pushed him to suicide.

Vishnukumar’s mother, Uma, filed a police complaint citing caste-based discrimination as a significant factor in her son’s suicide. Initially registered under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the case was later modified to include provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) and IPC Section 306 for abetment of suicide. The autopsy was conducted, and Vishnukumar’s remains were handed over to his family for the final rites.

Earlier this month a gang of six individuals assaulted and humiliated two Dalit youths by stripping them publicly after they had a bath in the Thamirabarani River.

In October 2023, a Scheduled Caste family residing in the Vidathilampatti hills within the Manapparai municipality faced threats from a dominant Urali Gounder family, experiencing verbal abuse, urine poured on the son, stoning of their house, and physical assault.

The Vengaivayal incident remains fresh in memory, where human waste was found dumped in a water tank used by Dalits in Vengaivayal village of Pudukottai district. 

The Nanguneri incident in August 2023 involved the brutal assault of a Class 12 Scheduled Caste student and his younger sister with sickles in their own home.

Dalit activists are dumbfounded at the rising number of such incidents in the state. They fear the backlash if they attempt to discuss atrocities against Dalits in the state, especially with supporters of the DMK responding with threats, abuse, and caste-based shaming.

The number of caste-related atrocities has been on the rise ever since the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government came to power. Ironically, a party that claims to have established social justice and “eradicated” caste is seeing such displays of horror in its own regime. 

(with inputs from The Hindu)

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