Dalit youth murder: Shop owners down shutters, Dalits stage demonstration

Tirupur: Shops downed shutters as 300 Dalits staged strident protest for over four hours in Komaralingam village, the native of the Dalit youth, Shankar, who was brutally murdered in a case of honour killing, demanding arrest of the murderers immediately.

Police personnel were immediately deployed at the village and patrols were stepped up in Udumalpet following the murder. Since the body of Shankar is at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH), the relatives began the road roko protest at the victim's native village Komaralingam on Monday morning. They blocked the road and following the tense situation, the shops downed the shutters.

On information, the Tirupur District S P, Thakur and revenue officials rushed to the spot and pacified the crowd. The agitators demanded immediate arrest of all the persons involved in the murder and they also urged Rs 10 lakh compensation for the victim's wife and government job for his brother. Besides, they demanded for fair process of post-mortem and investigation. After hours of convincing, revenue officials promised to release the compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh soon and additional amount to be sanctioned later. Officials assured a government job for his wife and video recording of the post-mortem.

Meanwhile, members of DYFI, AIDWA, Theenadami Ozhippu Munnai and students staged road roko protest in Tirupur and Avinashi demanding the arrest of the gang. The AIDWA and Dalit outfits urged promulgation of an immediate ordinance to protect life and property of the couple who have married out of caste and religious faiths and to hang honour killers.