In yet another case of violence against Dalits in the ruling DMK regime in Tamil Nadu, a Dalit woman was attacked by a DMK councillor in Tenkasi district for resisting attempts to grab her land.
A DMK office bearer named Jayakumar hailing from Kalyanapuram near Kadayam in Tenkasi district is also the Councillor for 13th ward of Kadayam Union.
He has been accused of encroaching an acre of land and houses in Kalyanapuram on Kadayam Road worth about ₹50 crore.
One of the victims, a woman from the Devendrakula Vellalar community has accused Jayakumar of grabbing their land.
He has also reportedly transferred the lease of the land belonging to the woman to his name with the help of the authorities and is demanding one lakh rupees for the lease to be transferred to the woman’s name.
He has also been accused of embezzling more than ₹20 lakh by claiming to get government benefits and jobs.
The victims took to protest in front of the Kadayam Panchayat Union office as the police and the Chief Minister did not take any action despite their complaints.
It is being reported that this man is to be made the Panchayat Union Chairman. Speaking to the media, she had angrily told that she and her family would immolate themselves if the DMK man is made the Panchayat Union Chairman.
Jayakumar had allegedly been coaxing the higher-ups in the DMK to make him the Panchayat Union Chairman. Upon coming to know about the Dalit woman’s byte to the media, Jayakumar along with DMK goons had attacked the woman.
She is now getting treated at the government hospital in Tenkasi district.
This is not the first instance of DMK office bearers trying grab the lands of Dalits.
Earlier, it was reported that two men belonging to the DMK – Pugazhendhi and Vairamani – residing in Konur village near Mettur in Salem district, tried to grab their land and harassed the families of Dalits living there. A Dalit woman attempted to immolate herself due to the administration’s apathy over her complaint regarding harassment by DMK goons.
(With inputs from News J)
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.