The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Court declines to quash charge memo

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Tuesday, Nov 20, 2007
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Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Court declines to quash charge memo

Special Correspondent

Three police personnel involved in attack on Dalit women and children

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has declined to quash the charge memo issued against three police personnel for their involvement in the brutal police attack on Dalit women and children at Vayalpadi near Kunnam in Perambalur district in April 1999.

Dismissing the writ petitions of head constables R. Subramanian and S. Selvaraj and constable S. Mahonaran, Justice K. Chandru said: “It is not as if the women and children were part of any rioting mob. But the police went in a group into the Dalit colony at about 7 p.m. and attacked the unarmed women and children and the infirm. When such brutalities take place, the State cannot be a mute spectator. It should take necessary curative action.”

Rejecting the petitioners’ contention that they were only discharging their duties , the judge said: “It is not explained what was the duty they were discharging around 7 p.m. on the fateful night and, that too, inside the Adi Dravidar colony, where children, women, infirm and the aged alone were found. Even they were not spared by the raiding police party.”

The matter relates to the opposition of caste Hindus in the village to the government’s plan to acquire their land for constructing an Adi Dravidar colony. Following a minor clash between the Dalits and the landowners, the police was called out to restore peace.

On April 9, 1999, a group of policemen entered the Adi Dravidar colony and attacked and arrested many persons. After an inquiry, the government placed the three petitioners under suspension. They were reinstated after the suspension was stayed by the High Court.

The present petition relates to the charge memo which they sought to quash on the ground that there was an inordinate delay in the proceedings.

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