‘Invoke SC/ST Act against accused in Dalit assault case'

Findings of a fact-finding team by Evidence, an NGO, has revealed that an inter-caste couple was ostracized and assaulted by caste Hindus in a village near Palladam in Tirupur district.

Siva Shankar, son of Natraj, 53, hailing from Vannar community and residing at Thanji Kattuputhur married Kasthuri from Arunthathiyar community on May last year.

Their marriage was solemnized by both families, but the Goundar community, who were in majority in the village, was irked over their wedding. The villagers ostracized the family members by prohibiting them from using a common pathway or from taking drinking water from a public tap. They were also asked not to visit the temple.

Hence the family members trekked around five kilometres daily to bring home water. Finding it difficult, they had decided to dig a borewell in the house, however, the villagers threatened them from doing so.

“A week ago, five caste Hindu villagers assaulted Natraj and his son Siva Shankar with iron pipes and logs. They even did not spare his pregnant wife and threatened them to leave the village,” said A Kathir of Evidence in a statement.

Following this, Natraj, his son and daughter-in-law, who suffered injuries were admitted in Kangayam Government Hospital and later shifted to Tirupur Government Hospital for treatment.

Based on a complaint, the Kangayam police registered a case under IPC sections 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation) and 294(b) for uttering obscene words.

The victims have even preferred a complaint with the officials at District Collectorate demanding to book the culprits under stringent sections. However, the police failed to invoke Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 against the assaulters, claimed the statement.