A Madurai-based NGO demanded the police and the district administration to book the persons, accused in the murder of a Dalit tractor driver, who was reportedly a VCK cadre, to book the accused under Goondas Act, in Pattur near Melur, in Madurai district. They also demanded that the accused must not be granted a bail till the investigation is over.

A Kathir, Executive Director, ‘Evidence’, inspects the murder spot at Pattur in Madurai

Madurai:

A Kathir, Executive Director, ‘Evidence’, along with his team visited the murder spot at Pattur and inquired the kin of the deceased, Sabareeswaran (30). The team also inquired the police officials about the accused and the action taken.

 

Kathir told DT Next that Sabareeswaran was murdered by a gang of eight upper caste Hindus on Tuesday evening, at around 5.30 pm. When inquired about the various motives behind the murder, he pointed out mainly towards the caste factor.

 

In 2016, when upper caste Hindu youths tried to erect a flag mast of a casteist party in Pattur village, Sabareeswaran along with his friends had opposed the idea and made them to drop the plan. Six months later, when Sabareeswaran and his friends had gone to participate in a stone lifting competition at temple festival at Ilavattakal, they were opposed by the upper caste Hindus of the village.

The upper caste Hindu youths had reportedly abused the Dalit youths publicly in the village temple for participating in the competition and had used casteist remarks against them.

 

Thereafter, on Tuesday, when the Dalit youths led by Sabareeswaran went to participate in the bull taming sport ‘manjuvirattu’, the upper caste Hindu youths prevented them from participating citing the caste factor. They had also threatened to murder Sabareeswaran.

 

In the evening, when Sabareeswaran had gone to take bath with three of his friends, the upper caste Hindu gang intercepted them and hacked the victim to death. Thereafter, a murder case was filed at Melavalavu police station in this connection.

 

Police enquiry revealed that the accused persons were history-sheeters. Therefore, the NGO argued that the accused persons must be booked under the Goondas Act and should not be released till the investigation was over.

The government should also give Rs 25 lakh as compensation to the family of Sabareeswaran, demanded Kathir.