The Chairperson of Manimuthar Town Panchayat, J Anthonyammal, who belongs to a Scheduled Caste, has filed a complaint with Ambasamudram Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Satheesh Kumar on 20 November 2024, accusing the husbands and relatives of certain panchayat councillors of caste-based harassment and issuing death threats.
In her petition, Anthonyammal stated that she had been facing continuous intimidation for the past two years. “I come from a family of tea estate workers in Manjolai and was unanimously elected as the chairperson of the panchayat, which is reserved for Scheduled Castes,” she said.
She went on to allege that since assuming office, she has been subjected to severe caste-based discrimination and abuse by Mariappan, husband of councillor Selvi; Kasi, husband of councillor Prema; and Boothapandian, father-in-law of councillor Muppudathi. According to her complaint, these individuals have obstructed her ability to perform her duties and have frequently disrupted panchayat meetings.
“They come intoxicated and attend meetings in place of the women councillors. When I confront them, they abuse me with casteist slurs,” Anthonyammal claimed.
She also described an incident on 12 November 2024, where Mariappan and Kasi allegedly waylaid her near the panchayat office. The two men, according to Anthonyammal, blocked her path, hurled caste-based slurs at her, and demanded that she resign from her post. “They told me that someone from a Scheduled Caste community was just a servant in their household. They also threatened me with violence and pressured me to award panchayat contracts to their preferred individuals,” she added.
TIRUNELVELI: Woman chairperson of Manimuthar town panchayat, who belongs to a scheduled caste, filed a complaint with Ambasamudram DSP, seeking legal action against husbands and relatives of certain intermediate caste panchayat councillors for allegedly harassing her on the basis… pic.twitter.com/O4rH926MBO
— Thinakaran Rajamani (@thinak_) November 21, 2024
Fearful for her safety, Anthonyammal has requested that immediate legal action be taken against the accused. She was accompanied by Tamilar Urimai Meetpu Kazham coordinator Lenin Kennedy and other activists when submitting her complaint at the DSP office.
In addition to her complaint to the police, the chairperson has sent a petition to the District Collector, Dr K P Karthikeyan, seeking intervention. Anthonyammal, a member of the DMK party, has also informed her party leadership about the ongoing harassment.
(With inputs from The New Indian Express)
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