VILLUPURAM: Dalits at Vellaiyampattu in the district are facing a social boycott.
They are not allowed to enter milk booths, fair price shops and schools located in certain areas.
Discrimination
The discrimination came to light during a recent visit of a study team of the Social Awareness Society for Youths (SASY) and the European Initiative for Democratic and Human Rights (EIDHR), according to R. Murugappan, monitoring associate.
Ever since the Vellaiyampattu panchayat was declared a reserved constituency before the local body elections, the divide between the Dalits and caste Hindus has been widening, Mr. Murugappan said.
Panchayat president Elangovan was barred entry into the house of a caste Hindu to pay floral tributes to a deceased on Thursday.
The villagers kept the Dalits out of funeral proceedings such as digging graves and requisitioned the services of others from Pilrampattu.
According to Mr. Murugappan, trouble started when Saroja, panchayat councillor, borrowed money from Badhrachalam to meet election expenditure.
Later, when Mr. Badhrachalam picked up a quarrel with Ms. Saroja’s son Aiyyanar over the delay in repayment, P. Kumar, a Dalit and friend of Mr. Aiyyanar, intervened.
Mr. Kumar alleged he was assaulted twice by a group at the Panamalaipettai bus stand and Vellaiyampattu. Later, the villagers filed complaints against the Dalits and imposed the boycott.
Mr. Murugappan said the SASY and the EIDHR had urged authorities to invoke provisions of the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 against those who ill treated the Dalits.
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