The 17-year-old Dalit boy was brutally attacked for allegedly questioning the occupants of the car for indulging in rash driving.
Published Nov 05, 2024 | 3:49 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 05, 2024 | 3:49 PM
The accused attacked the minor boy and damaged his house
Palayamkottai police arrested three people including a minor on Tuesday, 5 November and are searching for seven more for an alleged murder attempt on a Dalit teenager in Tirunelveli.
Former minister and AIADMK leader Jayakumar condemned the attack. He also criticised the DMK government and asked whether DMK will be concerned with people from marginalised communities only ahead of elections.
On Monday, 4 November, Manoj Kumar, a resident of Melapattam was riding his motorbike when a speeding car hit him. A student at a private polytechnic college in Tirunelveli, he was startled by it and yelled at the car’s occupants. Enraged, they allegedly got out of the car and attacked the minor.
They eventually fled the scene after local people intervened. The accused, however, did not stop with that. Aware that the Dalit teenager was alone at home, the individuals drove to Melapattam village later in the evening and allegedly damaged the boy’s house.
The ten accused broke several household items including an electric fan and cooking utensils. The accused then went on to attack Manoj brutally, beat him with sickles and hit him with a beer bottle before fleeing the scene.
Damaged house of the Dalit boy who was attacked.
The severely injured teenager was then rushed to the Tirunelveli Government Hospital where he is currently undergoing treatment. Palayamkottai Taluk police, who reached his residence after being informed, filed a case against the individuals and launched an investigation.
The ten accused have now been booked under several sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Juvenile Justice Act. Worried about potential future attacks, the boy’s parents have requested police protection.
Talking to media persons about the attack, Manoj’s mother said that the accused referred to the boy’s caste identity and asked who would hold them accountable for attacking a Dalit person.
“What kind of protection we have when we are attacked inside our house? What was our mistake except that my son asked them about rash driving? Should we just die by suicide?” she lamented.
She also asked cops to take appropriate action to ensure that more such attacks on Dalit people are prevented.
Two special teams were formed to search for the 10 individuals involved in the violent attack, led by two Sub-Inspectors. They arrested three individuals from the nearby Thirumalaikolunthupuram village late night on 4 November. The village is where the initial rash driving took place.
The trio – Muthumalai, Lakshmanan, and a 17-year-old boy – are currently being interrogated in a secure location while the hunt for the remaining seven accused is underway.
Condemning the attack on the boy from a marginalised community, former minister and AIADMK leader D Jayakumar also criticised the DMK government.
Taking to X to express his criticism, he asked how the ruling DMK government could let such an act of violence be committed against a Dalit minor boy. Referring to the attack against people from the marginalised community in Vengaivayal, he wrote, “How many more caste-based or gender-based atrocities are going to be committed under the DMK regime?”
He also charged at the DMK government for silencing alliance parties when they are being questioned and asked whether Dalit people will be remembered only ahead of elections.
திமுக ஆட்சியில் பட்டியலின மக்கள் மீது தொடரும் தாக்குதல்கள்!
சிறிய வயதுள்ள ஒரு சிறுவனை சாதியை வைத்து தாக்கும் அவலத்தை ஆட்சியாளர்கள் எவ்வாறு ஏற்றுக்கொள்கின்றனர்?
வேங்கைவயல் நாற்றம் இன்னும் வீசி கொண்டிருக்க,நெல்லையில் சிறுவன் மீது சாதிய வன்கொடுமை தாக்குதல் என இன்னும் எத்தனை… pic.twitter.com/3yxw1zdnsx
— DJayakumar (@djayakumaroffcl) November 5, 2024
(Edited by Neena with inputs from Nitika K Shivani)
