Ramanathapuram (Tamil Nadu): With two more persons succumbing to injuries at a hospital, the death toll in the police firing on a stone-pelting mob of Dalits, who indulged in violence following detention of their leader John Pandian, has risen to seven, the police said on Monday. Two persons identified as Teerpukani and Vellaichamy succumbed to injuries late last night. Officials have suspended bus services to the rural areas in the sensitive districts, including Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Sivaganga and Virudhunagar as a precautionary step. Additional police reinforcements have been brought from Tiruchirappalli, the police said. Three persons were killed in police firing at Paramakudi, 40 km from Ramanathapuram, after a mob of Dalits indulged in violence, pelted stones and set ablaze vehicles following detention of their leader John Pandian. Violence broke out after news spread that Pandian had been detained at Tuticorin en route to Paramakudi to pay homage on the death anniversary of Dalit leader Imanuel Sekar. [caption id=“attachment_81241” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Bullet power. Reuters”]  [/caption] The police used tear gas and lathi-charge before firing at the crowd at Paramakudi. Police said several people, including DIG Sandeep Mittal, Superintendent of Police Senthil Velan and DSP Ganesan were injured and rushed to the government hospital. More than 15 vehicles, including a crowd control vehicle, were set ablaze. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been promulgated in Ramanathapuram district. All shops and business establishments in Paramakudi, Muthukualthur and many other parts of this district were closed and bus services stopped. Local Dalit leaders blamed police for not making proper arrangements to manage the huge crowd expected for paying homage to the Dalit leader. They alleged that only 400 policemen were deployed in the area. The police said though violence has been brought under control, tension continued to prevail in the area. Earlier Dalit youths ransacked a police station at Paramakudi, in which three constables were injured. In a related incident, four Dalit youths on their way to Paramakudi were attacked allegedly by members of another community at Sokkanai village near Sikkal after a clash following certain objectionable remarks made by the Dalits. Some arrests have been made in connection with the clash. In Madurai, two persons were injured when police opened fire near the city to disperse a crowd which allegedly pelted stones at them. PTI
The tension occurred after a Dalit leader was detained by the police.
Advertisement
End of Article
Written by FP Archives
see more