Chennai, Nov 26 (BPNS)

Even as the Tamil movie ‘Jai Bhim’ portrayed the police, politician excesses against the Irular tribal community of Tamil Nadu, the woes of the nomadic community are far from over.

Irular tribals have complained that Loganathan, a local DMK functionary in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu, had threatened them with dire consequences if they stay in a local temple to wade of the threat of heavy rains as they were living in makeshift shanties.

Balakrishnan (23), an Irular tribe along with his wife Kavitha and their three-month-old baby and ten other community members were living in make-shift shanties at Pappankuzhi in Sreeperumbadur of Kancheepuram district on the roadside for the past ten years. However, in heavy rains, they shifted their stay at the godown of a municipal waste segregation centre.

However, mosquitos troubled them and they shifted their stay to a temple that was 500 meters from the centre for the past few days.

This led to trouble and a local DMK functionary Loganathan threatened them with a machete and once came with a few people and threatened that they would be burnt alive after putting them in the godown.

Balakrishnan while speaking to media persons said, “ He came to the temple and told us that the temple was not meant for lower people like us and threatened that we would be burnt alive inside a godown if we don’t obey his orders.”

The Irula tribals have registered a complaint with Sunguvarchatram police station but the police are yet to register a case.

Dr. Sudhakar, Kancheepuram district Superintendent of Police while speaking to media persons on Friday said, “ We are conducting the investigation and will take necessary action on the basis of the investigation”.

Balakrishnan and family said that they are finding it difficult to live in the open and even defecation is difficult for women in the open as men will have to take watch to prevent others from misbehaving. Irula tribals are demanding a residence for them and Aadhar card so that they get all the benefits.

DMK functionary Loganathan was not available for comment but DMK said that the party does not subscribe to his views and will take stringent action against him.