Heightened Security in TN's Tirunelveli After Dalit Student Assault
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Synopsis
Authorities in Tirunelveli are on high alert following a brutal attack on a Dalit student, raising concerns of potential caste-related violence. The assault has led to fears of retaliation, prompting police to closely monitor the situation in the region.
Key Takeaways
- Police heightened alert in Tirunelveli after attack.
- 17-year-old Dalit student Devendran assaulted.
- Attack suspected to be retaliatory after Kabaddi match.
- Involvement of intermediary caste confirmed by police.
- Caste-based violence remains a concern in Tamil Nadu.
Chennai, March 30 (NationPress) Authorities in Tirunelveli and nearby regions are on heightened alert following intelligence reports from Tamil Nadu regarding possible caste-related violence. This precautionary measure comes in response to the severe assault on a Dalit student, reportedly by individuals from an intermediary caste, raising concerns over potential retaliation.
Sources from the Tamil Nadu police indicate that the incident involving 17-year-old Devendran, a Class 11 student, occurred on March 10. Devendran, the child of daily-wage laborer Thanga Ganesh, was on his way to school in Palayamkottai to take an exam when he was forcibly removed from a bus and attacked by a group of unknown perpetrators. Disturbingly, his fingers were severed during the assault. Three minors have been apprehended in connection with this case.
Devendran's family suspects the violence was a retaliation for a recent Kabaddi match in which he played a pivotal role in defeating a team predominantly composed of individuals from a dominant caste.
Recognized as a skilled Kabaddi player, Devendran's success is believed to have incited hostility. Police reports confirm that men from an intermediary caste participated in the attack and highlighted that caste-related tensions in the area have previously erupted over trivial disputes. These incidents have frequently escalated into significant confrontations, including murders and acts of vengeance.
Despite Tamil Nadu’s longstanding tradition of progressive social reforms championed by leaders like E.V.R. Periyar, who pushed for the elimination of caste, certain districts in the south continue to be susceptible to caste-driven violence.
The disparity between this progressive heritage and the present situation is striking. In 2024, the districts of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Kanyakumari, and Tenkasi collectively recorded 176 homicides, a slight decrease from 179 in 2023. That same year, 204 cases were filed under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in these four districts.
As tensions escalate following the attack on Devendran, local authorities are vigilantly monitoring the situation to avert any further conflict.
