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Caste men attack Dalit women in TN, NGO demands action

The NGO, Evidence have demanded police department of Pudukottai district in Tamil Nadu take immediate action against two upper caste men for attacking three Dalit women while they were taking bath.

Chennai, Jan 12 (BPNS)

The NGO, Evidence have demanded police department of Pudukottai district in Tamil Nadu take immediate action against two upper caste men for attacking three Dalit women while they were taking bath. The incident, according to a statement of the NGO, took place on January 1 but the police have not taken any action on the same.

Kathir, Executive Director of the NGO, Evidence, in a press statement said that Shakthidevi, Devi and Sreedevi, three Dalit women, were taking bath in Kothangudi village in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu, and two upper caste men, Iyyappan and Muthumaran threatened them and beat them up.

One of the Dalit women, Sridevi who was threatened by the men lodged a complaint with the Nagudi police station in the Pudukottai district on January 3. While police registered an FIR against the men, no action has been taken so far, the statement said.

The Executive director of Evidence in the statement also said that Iyyappan’s wife is the vice president of Perungattu panchayath was trying to influence the probe.

The NGO in the statement also said that the District Collector, Kavitha Ramu, and the District Superintendent of Police, Pandyan must meet the victims and conduct a proper investigation into the matter. The three victims have also lodged a complaint with the Tamil Nadu SC/ST commission, State Human Rights Commission, and State Women’s Commission demanding action against the upper caste men who were involved in abusing and threatening the Dalit women.

It is to be noted that the case related to the presence of Human excreta in a water tank meant to supply of drinking water to a Dalit colony in Vengaivayal village in the Pudukottai district. The new charge of upper caste men allegedly attacking and abusing Dalit women is another blot for the Pudukottai district.