JOIN USTamil Nadu: Dalit shepherd forced to fall on feet of Thevar man; 7 arrested
A shepherd from the Dalit community was made to fall at the feet of a person belonging to the dominant Thevar caste in Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu over an argument. Members of the dominant community not just made the shepherd fall on the feet of one of them but also recorded a video of the same and circulated on social media.
The incident, which took place on October 8 in Olaikulam village in Kayatharu taluk of the district, came to light after Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thol. Thirumavalavan, Lok Sabha MP from the Chidambaram constituency, shared the video on Twitter.
As the video went viral, the Thoothukudi district police swung into action and arrested all seven belonging to the Thevar community involved in the incident. All have been booked under various sections of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Information Technology (IT) Act.
#அநாகரிகம்: வட இந்திய மாநிலங்களில் மட்டுமல்ல; தமிழ்நாட்டிலும் தொடரும் அநாகரிகம். கயத்தாறு அருகே ஓலைக்குளம் கிராமம் ஆதிக்குடியினத்தைச் சார்ந்தவரின் ஆடுகள் தங்களின் கொல்லைப் பகுதியில் எப்படி நுழையலாமென இந்தக் கேவலத்தை அரங்கேற்றியுள்ளனராம். pic.twitter.com/6BBvT2PkfF
— Thol. Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) October 12, 2020
Thoothukudi District Superintendent of Police (SP) S Jeyakumar said seven persons have been arrested in connection with the incident and promised of strict action against them. He also said the family will be given protection.
In his complaint, 60-year-old A Paulraj said members of both communities have been herding sheep in the village and an argument ensued between him and another person from the Thevar community after one of his goats crossed over to the other side.
“They made me fall on the feet of Sivasangu Thevar several times and while I was being humiliated, a few people from Thevar community were shooting a video of the same. They used casteist slurs and humiliated me to the core. They also threatened that they will kill me,” Paulraj said in his complaint, a copy of which was accessed by DH.
He also said he was herding 90 sheep and 10 goats, while Sivasangu Thevar also had the same number.
Sharing the 10-second video which shows Paulraj repeatedly falling on the feet of Sangili Thevar, Thirumavalavan said such incidents do not happen only in North India but also in Tamil Nadu.