TN Dalit outfits demand CBI probe into human excreta in water tank 

Chennai, April 10 (BPNS)

Dalit outfits of Tamil Nadu want an inquiry of the case in which human excreta was found in the drinking water tank in Vengavayil in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu.

The incident happened in December 2022 when human excreta was found mixed in a drinking water tank placed overhead. The tank was supplying water to a Dalit colony and this led to a major issue in the area with the Dalit outfits stating that this was a clear case of upper caste people insulting the Dalits.

R. Selvanathan, President, Ambedkar Study Forum, a think tank on Dalit studies, based out of Tiruchi while speaking to BPNS said, “The mixing of Human excreta in drinking water is a clear message to the Dalit community. The message, as per I could decode is that the Dalits are still much much lower in strata to the upper castes and the middle caste communities and they need not aspire to try and come up in life.”

He said that the Ambedkar Study Forum and other like-minded organizations would conduct protest marches in Pudukottai demanding an immediate CBI probe into the matter.

M.S. Sulekhamani, a Dalit woman activist associated with the Centre for Dalit Studies and Thoughts, based out of Chennai while speaking to BPNS said, “ The Dalits are treated meanly in several internal parts of Tamil Nadu and the Vengavayil incident is a classic example. If the CB-CID of the Tamil Nadu police is not able to crack the case that took place as early as December 2022, then what is the point in continuing with them, let the CBI conduct a comprehensive investigation. Why is the government shying away? Any powerful vote-bank at stake?”

She said that Dalit movements are forming a network and would conduct protest marches in Pudukottai if the government does not immediately order a CBI investigation into the matter.

Even the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) wants an immediate solution to the matter and to bring the culprits to book. The VCK had also called upon the demolition of the overhead water tank which was standing as a symbol of oppression.