Ayyasamy’s hands were severely injured in the attack, leaving him in critical condition. In addition to the physical assault, the victim’s house was also vandalised.
Published Feb 14, 2025 | 12:05 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 14, 2025 | 8:41 AM
Two among the accused who were arrested for attacking Dalit youngster Ayyasamy.
Synopsis: A Dalit student was attacked by three people in Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga district for riding a motorcycle, allegedly due to caste prejudice. The accused have been arrested and charged under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC and ST) (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
In a shocking caste-based attack, three men brutally assaulted a 19-year-old Dalit student near Manamadurai in the Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, 12 February, for “riding an expensive motorcycle.”
Ayyasami, a third-year BSc Mathematics student at RDM College Sivagangai from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community Paraiyar, was abused with casteist slurs and attacked with a sword by three people from the Backwards Class (BC) community Agamudaiyar, reportedly due to caste prejudice.
The accused are Vinoth Kumar (20), Atheeshwaran (23), and Vallarasu – all residents of Melapidavur. The Sipcot Police have since arrested all three.
An FIR based on a complaint by the victim’s mother has been registered under sections 294(b), 126, 118(1), 351(3) of BNS and Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The incident occurred around 6.30 pm when Ayyasami was returning home from college. He had stopped his vehicle to let an elderly pedestrian cross the road near a shop. At this point, the three accused approached him from behind.
#TamilNadu: In a shocking caste-based attack, a 19-year-old youth, Ayyasamy, belonging to the SC (Paraiyar) community, was brutally assaulted near Manamadurai in Sivaganga district.
The attack was allegedly carried out by two individuals from the BC (Agamudaiyar) community,… pic.twitter.com/FXJhvDFAHm
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) February 13, 2025
They hurled casteist slurs at him, reportedly due to his act of riding a Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle, with Atheeshwaran and Vallarasu encouraging Vinoth Kumar to “cut him.” The latter then attacked Ayyasami with a concealed sword, causing injuries to both his hands.
When his parents rushed to save him, they were also assaulted, and their house was vandalised.
Two of the accused have prior criminal records. Vinoth Kumar has previous involvement in cases including one under Section 302 (murder), while Atheeshwaran has a previous case of assault and criminal intimidation.
Ayyasami was initially rushed to the Government Hospital in Manamadurai for first aid, before being transferred to Sivagangai Government Hospital via 108 ambulance service for further treatment.
The incident has sparked outrage, with activists and political leaders demanding swift justice and stricter enforcement of laws against caste atrocities.
Tamil Nadu Congress President K Selvaperunthagai strongly condemned the attack and urged the government to take immediate and strict action against the accused.
Similarly, filmmaker Pa Ranjith’s Neelam Cultural Centre also voiced its concern over the issue, calling for justice for the victim and stronger measures to curb caste-based violence.
(With inputs from Subas Chandra Bose)
