The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Dalit worker's death sparks unrest

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 29, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Dalit worker's death sparks unrest

Staff Reporter

EYES OPEN: A posse of police on bandobust duty at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital on Thursday morning following a brief unrest over the death of Sampath, a construction worker belonging to Dalit community, who had set himself ablaze at the Co llectorate three days ago. Photo:M_Periasamy.

COIMBATORE: The death of a Dalit worker here on Thursday, due to the serious burns sustained in the self-immolation bid at the Collectorate on Monday, led to a minor unrest at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH).

N. Sampath, a construction worker, submitted a petition to the Collector on Monday accusing a Sulur-based trader Shanmugam, of abusing him by using his caste name. He even levelled charges of criminal intimidation against the trader. The petitioner also accused the police of failure to act on his complaint. He charged the police of having acted in favour of the accused.

Minutes after submitting the petition, Sampath attempted self-immolation and was rushed to the CMCH with 100 per cent burns. Early on Thursday, he died of the injuries.

Following this, leaders and cadres of various Dalit organisations gathered in front of the hospital accusing the police of having failed to act in time, which made Sampath take such an extreme decision.

Compensation sought

The President of Puthiya Tamizhagam, K. Krishnasamy and Deputy General Secretary of Dalit Panthers of India, Susi Kalaiarasan and others refused to accept the body demanding action against the accused and the police personnel. They also sought compensation to Sampath's family and a Government job for his wife. Following a brief unrest, a posse of police personnel led by the Commissioner of Police, Karan Singha and the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), P. Nagarajan oversaw the bandobust arrangements and held talks with the dalit leaders to defuse tension.

Talking to media persons at the hospital, Dr.Krishnasamy alleged that there was "slackness" on the part of the police in dealing with petitions relating to caste abuse and prevention of atrocities.

Police should start invoking the legal provisions to ensure equality for Dalits rather than indulging in arbitration, he said.

Accusing the police of having chosen to withdraw nearly 50 cases relating to SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act of 1989 by the stroke of a single order, he demanded a white paper on the status of cases registered in the last five years under the provisions of Protection of Civil Rights Act and SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.

He listed a number of incidents where the interests of Dalit people had been at stake. Taking objection to the "attitude and approach" of the police in dealing with such sensitive issues, he cautioned that "such an approach would lead to caste clashes, making the SC/ST people lose faith in legal and democratic systems".

"Dalit outfits would mobilise the support of all oppressed communities and stage an agitation shortly", he said.

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