Battle over right of way in caste war
Picture used for representation purpose only. (Photo: DC/File)
Villupuram: Of all things that could trigger a communal violence, a road is least likely to figure as one on that notorious list. Barely five feet wide and yet the Seshasamudram road is the reason why seven Dalit homes were burnt in the violence here on Saturday. The Vanniyars, who for the last three years have been objecting to Dalits taking a temple car procession on the road, live on the south side while the Dalit colony is situated to the north.
When the issue started to raise its head, the Vanniyars' first step to sabotage the temple procession was to damage the road, it is alleged. “They used jack hammers to damage the road and created potholes so that our car cannot run on it,” said Veerasamy, a Dalit youth, pointing to the damaged portion of the road.
Save the 200-odd metre portion on the road on which the Dalits planned to take their procession through, the rest of the road was largely intact without noticeable damage. Large stones remain scattered on the road close to where the homes were burnt.
“They used to roll these stones over here and block the road in the middle of the night. They did everything possible to prevent us from taking our car out,” Veerasamy added. With the procesion route taking centre stage as the focal point of the tension, the district administrators held several rounds of peace talks with both communities since 2011, during which neither party was allowed to hold temple festivals.
But experts suggest that the bureaucrats might have been in the wrong. “Denying right of passage is wrong, especially if the victims are from the Dalit communities,” said retried HC justice K. Chandru.
Chandru said that the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 was being violated by Vanniyars but the district administrators were content conducting peace talks. “Under Section 145 of Cr.P.C, it is the duty of the police to control law and order situation while ensuring that the Dalits' constitutional rights are restored,” said Chandru. “But the history of Villupuram and its many incidents of caste violence suggest that authorities are content holding peace talks to maintain status quo. That is equal to doing nothing and it is wrong,” he added.
While there may not be many political parties forthcoming to take the lead in highlighting the issue, the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front has come forward. TNUEF office-bearers told DC that they will take up the issue with the National Human Rights Commission. “We are set to visit the spot and review the damage. We will then compile and table the report before NHRC ,” said P. Sampath, TNUEF president.
Sampath also urged the NHRC to start utilising its statutory powers and issue directives to states decreeing punishment for those responsible for caste violence “Because in Tamil Nadu, there is no political will to address the issue. Politicians are content stoking fire to bank votes,” he added.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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