Chennai, Feb 11 (BPNS)
Sultanpet and surrounding areas of Coimbatore remained tense after Kesavan (47), a Scheduled caste, daily wage earner died on Thursday evening after being assaulted by a group of caste Hindus three days before.
Police arrested seven upper-caste Hindus in relation to the assault and subsequent death of Kesavan. The incident occurred on Tuesday when Kesavan who was riding a two-wheeler rammed his bike into a moped driven by a milk vendor, Mayilsami who fell down and suffered injuries.
Kesavan reportedly left the accident scene without tendering an apology to Mayilsami which infuriated the Upper caste Hindus of the area to which the injured moped driver belongs to.
Around 7 pm a 14 member gang entered the house of Kesavan and brutally assaulted him and his wife who tried to shield him. Kesavan suffered serious injuries on his head and was taken to hospital by local people and neigbhours and relatives.
He succumbed to his injuries on Thursday evening and the situation turned tense with several people belonging to the Scheduled Castes coming out on the road and blocking the streets.
VCK leader Thamaraikannan while speaking to BPNS said, “We demand strong action against the perpetrators of this violence. A road accident in which a Scheduled Caste person lost control of his bike and rammed it into a moped driven by a caste Hindu injuring him has led to such a situation wherein the bike driver has lost his life. This is pure hooliganism in the name of caste and we will not tolerate this.”
The VCK demanded strong action against those involved. Sultanpet police said that a case has been registered against all the fourteen accused under Sections 147, 148,294(b), 323, 427, 355, 307 of IPC, and a few sections of the SC/ST ( Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Police said that seven involved directly in the assault were arrested and the hunt is on for the remaining seven people.
A strong contingent of Police led by the Superintendent of Police is camping in the area to prevent any untoward incident from taking place. The situation, according to police has been brought under control but the SC/ST organizations are conducting sporadic protest marches near the area.
While South Tamil Nadu witnesses clashes between SC/ST people and Upper caste and OBC Hindus, the Coimbatore area has been relatively peaceful. However, the death of Kesavan has led to a tense situation.
