Representational image
| Photo Credit: M. Vedhan
The recent spurt in violent attacks against members of Scheduled Castes (SC) in Tamil Nadu has caused a concern among SC intellectuals and human rights activists who were up in arms against the CB-CID charge sheet in the Vengaivayal human faeces case, which identified three SC youth as the perpetrators.
Filmmaker Pa. Ranjith on Saturday (February 15, 2025) asked if Chief Minister M.K. Stalin would at least acknowledge violence against SCs in Tamil Nadu, and said a report on violent attacks on SCs in recent times will be published by his Neelam Cultural Centre.
A lawyer closely involved with the centre and Neelam magazine, flagged the police’s approach in the case related to crimes against SCs.
“The police are proactively releasing statements denying the caste angle whenever violent crimes against Dalits are reported. It is a matter of concern that, instead of investigating the crime, the police are taking the position of the defence,” he said.
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi general secretary D. Ravikumar said the rise in crime against Dalits in Tamil Nadu, as acknowledged by Union Home Ministry, is due to the rise in social tensions following implementation of several developmental schemes by the State government.
“Tamil Nadu government’s schemes such as Naan Mudhalvan, Pudhumai Pen and Annal Ambedkar Business Champions Scheme has benefited Dalits significantly. However, every time the educational and economic status of Dalits improve, it is followed by rise in social tension because the feudal forces are disturbed by it. It is the responsibility of the police to ensure that law and order and presently, there is a lacunae in that aspect,” he said.
The State government and Opposition should not approach every issue through the lens of electoral politics. “Seeing every issue through the lens of electoral politics – and not providing justice – is also a problem. Both the ruling DMK and the Opposition AIADMK should take note of the consequences of such an approach,” said Mr. Ravikumar.
Samuel Raj, State secretary, Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front, affiliated to CPI (M), said the police ‘reports’ on incidents, often claiming that the crimes related to caste, illicit liquor and drug trade, were committed due to ‘personal enmity’, only serves to protect the image of the State government.
“When the hand of the Dalit youth in Sivaganga is hacked for riding a Bullet bike by dominant caste members, the Sivagangai SP immediately clarifies that there is no caste angle. In the Mayiladuthurai issue, it was the Director General Of Police who has said that youth was attacked because of personal enmity and not due to a conflict related to illicit liquor,” he said.
He added, “The State government is shirking its responsibilities by not acting against crimes related to caste, illicit liquor and drugs. It is unfortunate and condemnable,” he said.
Published – February 18, 2025 01:58 pm IST
