Retired high court judge to probe Tamil Nadu firing

The Tamil Nadu government ordered a judicial probe into Sunday’s police firing in Ramanathapuram district which claimed seven lives.

“What happened at Paramakudi was unfortunate and we are forming an inquiry commission under a retired  high court judge to probe the whole incident,” Jayalalithaa told the state assembly on Monday.

Seven people were killed and more than fifty persons injured when police opened fire to quell a riot unleashed by a group of Dalits at Paramakudi. More than 15 policemen including a DIG were injured when the angry mob pelted stones and went on a rampage by setting vehicles ablaze.

According to district collector Arun Roy, the police opened fire when the mob refused to disperse even after lathi charge and bursting of tear gas shells. Though the collector described the Sunday incident as a riot unleashed by violent mobsters, the truth is that it was the fall out of the prevailing tension between Thevars, the caste Hindus and  Dalits. The clashes owe its origins to Saturday’s murder of a Dalit boy in Paramakudi, according to Thol Thirumavalavan, MP.

Sunday was also the death anniversary of Emmanuel Sekaran, a Dalit activist who was murdered on September 11, 1957 in a caste conflict. Every year thousands of Dalits congregate at Paramakudi to offer homage to their leader. Since the police felt that the murder of the Dalit boy could result in the memorial day turning violent, they detained John Pandian, one of the Dalit  leaders who was on his way to Paramakudi.

“The detaining of Pandian was the cause for the riots and the police is responsible for the riots. Had they not taken Pandian into custody nothing would have happened,” said Thirumavalan.

The caste equations between Dalits and caste Hindus have been a matter of concern in Tamil Nadu for quite some time. Tamil Nadu is the only state where the two-tumbler system is practiced. In most of the villages, shops serve tea for Dalits in special tumblers..

This reporter has personally experienced the two-tumbler syndrome in Cuddalore district. Though the government has posted policemen to monitor any practice of untouchability, they  look the other way when tea is served in separate tumblers.

“Dalits are not allowed to wear shirts or sandals in these areas,” said Dr Krishnasamy, MLA and leader of Puthiya Tamilagam.

Cho Ramaswamy, political commentator, who has followed these clashes, is of the view that unless someone makes a complaint to the police, it is not possible for the law enforcing agencies to take action. “These riots and clashes are not confined to one particular region or during a particular regime. This has been there for decades. Unless the grievances of the Dalits are genuinely addressed, we may see more troubles,” said Cho.

But Doraipandi Kuppuramau, a social activist in Ramanathapuram blamed the evangelists in the region for the frequent clashes. “

They are trying to separate the Dalits from the national mainstream by religious conversion. Major political parties are afraid to accept this fact in the open,” he said.