Published Sep 15, 2026 | 9:24 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 15, 2026 | 9:24 PM
The idol was taken through the main Karikuppam road on the afternoon of September 14 under heavy police security.
Synopsis: A dispute over Dalit residents taking a Vinayagar idol through a public road during Vinayagar Chaturthi has triggered tensions with members of the Vanniyar community in Karikuppam, Cuddalore. The dispute escalated after three Dalit school students were allegedly subjected to casteist attack by Vanniyar community members.
Tensions between the Vanniyar and Dalit communities in Cuddalore district’s Karikuppam village continued for the third consecutive day after members of the former community objected to Dalit residents installing a Vinayagar idol in their locality for the first time to celebrate Vinayagar Chaturthi.
The situation escalated further on Tuesday, September 15, after members of the Vanniyar community allegedly assaulted, hurled casteist slurs and placed footwear and other objects on the heads of three Dalit students while they were on their way to school.
Vinayagar Chaturthi was celebrated across Tamil Nadu on September 14, with nearly one lakh Vinayagar idols installed in streets and public spaces.
In Karikuppam, Dalit youths had made arrangements to install an idol, saying they wanted to celebrate the festival like residents in other parts of the State. This however irked members of the Vanniyar community triggering casteist abuse and confrontation between the communities.
Karikuppam is a small coastal village located near Parangipettai union. From the main Karikuppam road, the road towards the coast first passes through settlements inhabited predominantly by members of the Vanniyar community.
After descending a slope, it reaches the settlement of the Paraiyar community. The IL&FS Thermal Power Station is also located near the village.
On the evening of September 13, Dalit youths were taking a Vinayagar idol towards their locality along the main Karikuppam road, accompanied by drums and other forms of celebration, as is customary during the festival.
The idol had to pass through the Vanniyar-dominated residential area after entering the Karikuppam main road from the Puthuchathiram main road.
“Some Vanniyar youths there stopped us and said that the idol should not be taken into the village through this route,” said Ramalingam, a resident of the village.
Police personnel, including officers from the Parangipettai police station, intervened and held discussions with both sides. However, no immediate resolution was reached and the police reportedly asked the Dalit youths to use an alternative route to transport the idol.
As only a few youths were present at the time, they complied with the police instructions and took the idol along a route through the thermal power station, travelling an additional half kilometre before bringing it into their settlement.
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Ramalingam said that later that night, village elders and community leaders from the Dalit settlement met and decided to assert their right to use the public road.
“Everyone asked, how could they tell us that we cannot bring our own god through a public road? Isn’t this our basic right? If we let this go now, we will never be able to secure our rights in the future,” Ramalingam said, recounting the discussion among the residents.
On September 14, at around 10 am, the residents brought the Vinayagar idol to the Puthuchathiram main road and staged a road blockade, demanding the right to take the idol through the public road. Members of the Vanniyar community also gathered and opposed the move.
Following this, Chidambaram ASP Sathriya Kavin and other senior police officials held several rounds of talks with members from both communities.
Vijay, a local functionary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), who participated in the negotiations, said the police initially questioned the need to bring the idol out again after it had already been installed.
“Police officials told us things like, ‘Why are you bringing the idol again after taking it there? There are certain restrictions for celebrating Vinayagar Chaturthi. You have to take the idol along the route permitted by the police. We even have the authority to seize the idol,’” Vijay said.
According to Vijay, the Dalit residents then explained that the issue was about their right to use a public road and that nobody had the right to prevent them from taking their deity through it.
Following discussions with both sides, the police permitted them to take the idol along the disputed road, subject to certain restrictions, including that there should be no drums or bursting of firecrackers during the procession, he said.
The idol was subsequently taken through the main Karikuppam road on the afternoon of September 14 under heavy police security and accompanied by hundreds of Dalit residents. It was then installed in the Dalit settlement.
Video footage from the procession purportedly shows men and women from the Vanniyar community openly opposing the procession and allegedly using abusive language.
Selva Pradeesh, a member of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) attempted to defend the Vanniyar community’s opposition to the procession.
“The Vanniyar community opposed it because if people come with firecrackers and drums and play caste-based songs, and if someone who is drunk does something, it could lead to a problem,” he claimed.
When asked whether any caste-based songs were actually played during the procession, Selva Pradeesh said, “No, nothing like that was played that day. We are saying this because we believe they will play such songs.”
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On the morning of September 15, four members of the Vanniyar community allegedly intercepted three Dalit school students while they were passing through the Vanniyar-dominated residential area on their way to the Puthuchathiram main road.
The students were allegedly verbally abused, physically assualted and humiliated by placing footwear on their heads by the Vanniyar community members. The students reportedly returned to their village crying and informed local residents about the alleged assault.
The perpetrators were identified by the residents as Tirupathi (35), Amavasai (60), Seenu (58) and Rajadurai (58)
“We immediately went to the Parangipettai police station and lodged a complaint. A peace meeting has now been called at the taluk office on the evening of September 15,” a resident said.
Selva Pradeesh meanwhile denied that the assault had taken place and accused members of the Dalit community of damaging their houses.
Ramalingam rejected this allegation, saying, “The claims made by the Vanniyar side are completely false. They are making a false complaint at the police station to protect their side.”
When asked whether he had any evidence to support the claim that houses belonging to members of the Vanniyar community had been attacked, Selva Pradeesh said he would provide it. However, no such evidence had been provided by the time this article was published.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
