Caste fracas in Sivagangai: Dalit’s body not buried yet

THANJAVUR: Body of a Dalit, 60-year-old  Kandepan, belonging to Pallar community, who died on Wednesday, is yet to be buried due to caste related issues at Manalur, 30 kms from Manamandurai in Sivagangai district.

However Madurai bench  bench of the Madras high court on Friday ordered partial permission to take the body with police protection and bury the body. The Dalits approached Madurai bench of the Madras high court soon after the death of Kandeepan seeking permission to use Melatheru, where people of a dominant community lived (Kallars) to take the body and bury it in the burial ground meant exclusive for them at a distance of two kms. According to Pallar community people, as police was not ready to give
protection, they sought the help of  Madurai bench. The police allegedly refused to give permission citing
paucity of staff as the reason. In the affidavit filed by Dalit people in the court on Friday,  they said that denying permission to take the body of their kin through a public road is not legal. Public road cannot be blocked. People of dominant community said that the Dalit people leave garlands and other articles used to take the body on their houses and roads. They also said that there is a temple of them in the road and that they themselves take the body in alternate routes.

The court ordered taking the body through Melatheru, take a diversion and reach the burial ground. It also asked the police to give protection in its order on Friday.