Collector M. Vijayalakshmi on Sunday warned that tough action would be taken against those posting false and hate videos on social media platforms with the intention of creating unrest.
Presiding over a peace meeting held at the Collector Office with Dalit and Vanniyar leaders of Ponparappi, where scores of houses belonging to Dalits were damaged in the violence that erupted on polling day, she said it was important for all stakeholders to cooperate with the district administration to ensure harmony in the village. No one should give room for fomenting trouble.
Asserting that normalcy had been restored in the village, the Collector said police picketing had been posted at 12 points to instill confidence among the people. In addition, revenue officials had also been posted to monitor the developments. There was no report of any untoward incident except on polling day. Leaders of both communities had expressed their wish for restoring peace and brotherhood in the village.
Revenue officials had been asked to conduct a survey of the damaged houses of Dalits. They would be compensated as quickly as possible under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. It was also impressed upon the leaders of both communities that innocent people would not be implicated in cases, she added.
The Dalit leaders told the Collector and Superintendent of Police V.R. Srinivasan that several of those who attacked their community members and houses were still at large and should be arrested immediately.
On their part, Vanniyar leaders complained that violence broke out only after continuous provocation of Dalits. Police had not arrested those who attacked Vanniyars, they said.