SIVAGANGA/MADURAI
Tiruppuvanam police have registered a first information report (FIR) against four unknown persons after a Dalit casual worker lodged a complaint that he was attacked for travelling pillion on a two-wheeler without revealing his caste.
The police said A. Santhanam (47), the complainant, said he was walking towards Piramanur, after attending a ceremony at Kaliyandur under Tiruppuvanam police station limits on the night of June 3, when he asked a two-wheeler rider for a lift. After dropping him at Piramanur, a Dalit village, the two-wheeler rider assaulted him for not revealing his caste before riding pillion on his bike, he said.
Based on the complaint, the police registered a case against four unknown accused under Sections 294 (b) (uttering obscene words) and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons), read with Section 3 (1) (R) of the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015.
The police said the complainant, who suffered a cut injury on his hand in the alleged assault, was not coherent when they inquired him about the incident. Initially, he said two persons attacked him for not revealing his caste and later said two others joined them. The alleged incident took place around 10.30 p.m., when it was pitch dark in the area.
The complainant could not identify the offenders or give any clues about them or their vehicles, the police said, adding his charges could also not be corroborated with any eye witness account. As the complainant had suffered a cut injury, they were investigating the matter, the police added.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Thursday, A. Kathir, Executive Director of Evidence, a Madurai-based non-governmental organisation, appealed to the State and Central governments to provide more protection to the marginalised people.
Stressing that those who attacked Mr. Santhanam should be detained under the Goondas Act, Mr. Kathir said the attack came close on the heels of the murder of three Dalits at Kachanatham village in Sivaganga district.