Dalits in Tamil Nadu village attacked for voting in election
Scores of Dalits, including women and children, were injured and their houses, utensils and two-wheelers were damaged when a 100-strong mob attacked their colony and indulged in violence on April 18, when Tamil Nadu voted in the general election, at Ponparappi village in Ariyalur block in Tiruchi district. A video of the violence went viral on social media.
At least 20 tiled houses, belonging to Dalits and sporting the “Pot” symbol on their walls, were totally damaged. Eight Dalits sustained serious injuries and were admitted to the Jayamkondam Government Taluk Hospital. The village falls in the Chidambaram Reserved Lok Sabha constituency where Dalit leader Thol.…
Police sources told Frontline that a group of people belonging to the Vanniyar community attempted to prevent an elderly Dalit in the village from exercising his franchise. He objected to it and sought police intervention. A police man on duty ensured that he could vote. Besides, when polling was on, a few other persons affiliated to the PMK and the Hindu Munnani, a Tamil Nadu-based Hindutva group, broke a pot, the symbol allotted to the VCK chief, leading to an altercation. This culminated in the violence in which the Dalit colony was targeted.…
https://frontline.thehindu.com/incoming/article26899140.ece
SEE ALSO:
- Dalit groups set up control room for polls (Apr 21, 2019, The Hindu)
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/dalit-groups-set-up-control-room-for-polls/article26901138.ece - It’s OBC-Dalit politics vs Hindutva in Hindi heartland (Apr 21, 2019, Deccan Herald)
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/its-obc-dalit-politics-vs-hindutva-in-hindi-heartland-729799.html - Harassment pushes Dalit family to the brink (Apr 21, 2019, The Hindu)
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/harassment-pushes-dalit-family-to-the-brink/article26901151.ece - In this border Dalit village, no girl attends school (Apr 19, 2019, Deccan Herald)
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/in-this-border-dalit-village-no-girl-attends-school-729621.html
