CB-CID officials interrogate 8 in Pudukottai water tank case

TIRUCHY: Dalit community people, who came for an inquiry in Tiruchy by the CB-CID sleuths over mixing of faeces in overhead water tank, here on Tuesday urged the state government to identify the real culprits and get them proper punishment.

The case of mixing human faeces in an overhead water tank belonging to Dalit residential neighbourhood in Pudukkottai district was brought to light on December 26. Chief Minister MK Stalin deputed officials to visit the spot and initiate proper action against the culprits.

The Vellanur police, who registered a case, could not identify the culprits and so the case was transferred to CB-CID on January 16.

Based on the direction, the CB-CID DSP Palpandi and team commenced an investigation over the case and the investigation process has been continuing for the past 23 days.

Sources said, the CB-CID conducted an inquiry with as many as 92 persons from three different castes, residing at Eraiyur, Vengaivayal, Cauvery Nagar and Muttukadu villages.

Among the 92 persons, eight persons were summoned again by the CB-CID.

As per the order, the eight persons identified as Kanagaraj (45), Kannadasan (32), Muthukrishnan (22) and special police Muraliraja (32) and a college student Sudarshan (19) all belonging to Vengaivayal and Dalit community and Union Councillor Revathy’s husband, Chidambaram, former OHT operator Shanmugam and present OHT operator Kasi Viswanthan were inquired and the inquiry lasted till late in the evening.

Since the Dalits were called again for the inquiry, they alleged that the police might frame the charges against them and close the case.

“We are the affected persons, but the police continue to inquire us repeatedly and we suspect that we might be framed in the case,” said Sadasivam, a resident from Vengaivayal who accompanied them.

While the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front, committee member Maran who also had accompanied the people of Vengaivayal said, since the Dalit population is comparatively less, the police are reportedly trying to frame the case against them. “The State government should intervene into the issue and identify the real culprits and initiate action,” he demanded.