A complaint has been filed against a DMK office bearer in Tiruvannamalai district for beating a youth belonging to the Scheduled Caste community with slippers.
The accused Karunanidhi belonging to the DMK, is the leader of Parayampattu gram panchayat. Ramkumar, a young graduate belonging to the same village, is the leader of the youth wing of Dravidar Kazhagam (DK)’s Tiruvannamalai unit.
The incident was reported by Ramkumar to another a media outlet as below:
Ramkumar was a riding his bike near the banks of the village lake at around 10 AM on May 15. Karunanidhi riding pillion with another man named Dharman is said to have come in the opposite direction and collided on Ramkumar’s bike. Ramkumar had responded angrily saying that both the parties would have been hurt badly if they had come in speed.
“Can’t you see me and Thalaivar (leader) coming? You should have made way on seeing us” Dharman is said to have responded using abusive language. Ramkumar had then gotten into a war of words. Irked, Karunanidhi got off from the bike and started beating Ramkumar with slippers hitting his face and chest.
“How dare you raise your voice and speak against me? Should have thrown you guys outside the village a long time back. Since that wasn’t done, you got enough courage to speak up against us is it?” said Karunanidhi using casteist slurs.
Karunanidhi’s brother Parthasarathy who was passing by started using casteist slurs against Ramkumar without inquiring into the incident “You earn your livelihood by beating drums. Don’t even have the ability to pay back debts! How dare you speak against my brother?” Parthasarathy is reported to have said who also started thrashing Ramkumar.
Coming to know of the incident Ramkumar’s mother hurried to the spot who was also beaten with slippers by DMK man Karunanidhi and his brother.
Ramkumar is later said to have reported the incident at Thachampattu Police Station where his complaint was initially rejected. After a long hiatus, an FIR was registered. Later, Thachampattu Block Councillor Ramanan of the DMK had threatened Ramkumar to withdraw the case.
The Thachampattu Police have registered cases against 6 members including Karunanidhi. Dharman has been arrested. Karunanidhi and the other 4 members are absconding. The family members of Karunanidhi had said that Ramkumar had lost the elections for panchyat union leader and had acted in vengeance. They alleged Ramkumar of using cuss words which had irked Karunanidhi to beat him with slippers. “The slippers didn’t even hit him”, the relatives were reported saying.
Karunanidhi is said to be an influential man in the DMK. He is said to be a close acquaintance of A.V. Velu who is said to be protecting Karunanidhi currently.