Attack on Dalits: Madras High Court asks Collector, SP to respond

MADURAI: The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court directed the Madurai collector, Mr. Veera Raghava Rao and the SP, Mr. N Manivannan to file their responses on a petition seeking action against members of a dominant caste in a case connected with alleged attack on Dalit family members and their properties near here recently.

The dominant caste members caused injuries to 20 Dalits and damaged around 50 houses and their vehicles at Paniyur village near Madurai on October 30, said Muthukannan, the petitioner from the village. They had unleashed this attack as Dalits asserted their rights to participate in Mariamman temple festival in the village, said the petitioner. Around 700 families belonging to a dominant caste and 150 Dalit families reside in the village. The dominant caste indulged in violence a day after the Revenue officials held peace talks with members of both communities over celebrating the temple festival, said Muthukannan.

Though the Dalits had filed a complaint with the police, they did not take appropriate action against the assailants, claimed the petitioner and added that the action had to be taken against the attackers under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.He also requested the court to direct the authorities to pay adequate compensation for the damages caused to their properties.After examining the petition, Chief Justice Ms. Indira Banerjee and Justice J Nisha Banu directed the collector and the SP to file a counter on November 15.