Keezhvenmani massacre anniv observed

CPM State secretary K Balakrishnan, CPM Politburo member G Ramakrishnan, CITU State president A Soundararajan and leaders of various political parties placed floral wreaths at the ‘stupa’ erected in front of the ‘Ramaiyan Hut Memorial’ where 44 Dalit labourers were burnt to death in 1968 at Keezhvenmani village here in the district.

Besides, a large section of the public, cadres of the CPM, the CPI, the DYFI, the CITU, the Tamil Nadu Vivasaya Thozhilalar Sangam, AITUC and others paid their homage at the memorial.

It may be recalled that the Dalit farm labourers of Keezhvenmani village, influenced by Marxist-Communist ideology, involved in a standoff with upper caste landlords in 1968 for higher wages.

The farm labourers boycotted harvest, following which the local landlords brought labourers from outside to continue the harvest. This led to tension between the Dalit labourers and landlords. One of the upper caste landlord’s agents was killed in a clash with the Dalit labourers, in the ensuing enmity. As a result, riots broke out in which 44 Dalit labourers were burnt alive by henchmen of the landlords.