The teen was reportedly attacked with bamboo sticks, iron rods, and vehicle belts. Throughout the ordeal, the assailants allegedly hurled casteist slurs at him.
Published May 03, 2025 | 1:51 PM ⚊ Updated May 03, 2025 | 1:51 PM
Assault. Representational Image. (iStock)
Synopsis: In Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu, a 17-year-old Dalit boy was brutally beaten and tied to a tree overnight by a petrol pump owner, his sons, and staff after he quit a job. The assault, reportedly caste-based, led to the arrest of five men under the SC/ST Atrocities Act. The victim is hospitalized; police are investigating.
In a disturbing case of alleged caste-based violence, a 17-year-old Dalit boy was tied to a tree and brutally beaten throughout the night by a petrol pump owner, his two sons, and two staff members near Thenkaraikottai in Harur, Dharmapuri district.
Following a complaint at the A Pallipatti police station, the police have arrested five individuals under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The arrested include petrol pump owner Ramakrishnan, his sons Selvam and Senthil, and employees Selvaraj and another man also named Senthil. All five have been remanded in judicial custody.
The victim, Tharun (17), a resident of Gandhi Nagar near Thennkaraikottai, had worked for just six days at a paddy threshing unit owned by Ramakrishnan, who also runs the petrol pump in the area. Tharun later quit the job to work with a relative who had recently purchased a vehicle.
Ramakrishnan was enraged by Tharun’s decision to leave, and allegedly spoke ill of him to his uncle, says local reporters. Upon learning this, Tharun confronted Ramakrishnan on Wednesday, 30 April, while passing through Thenkaraikottai with a friend.
According to the complaint, when Tharun questioned the petrol pump owner about spreading false information, Ramakrishnan asked the boys to come to his petrol pump. Once there, both Tharun and his friend were allegedly assaulted. The friend managed to escape, but Tharun was overpowered, tied to a tree, and beaten for hours.
He was reportedly attacked with bamboo sticks, iron rods, and vehicle belts. Throughout the ordeal, the assailants allegedly hurled casteist slurs at him.
The escaped friend alerted Tharun’s relatives, who rushed to the scene. They found him still tied to the tree and severely injured. He was immediately taken to the Harur Government Hospital, where he is receiving intensive care.
Meanwhile, Ramakrishnan is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Pappireddipatti, claiming that Tharun had attacked him during the confrontation. Police have not commented on the counter-allegation but say investigations are ongoing.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
