Published Jul 18, 2026 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 18, 2026 | 8:00 AM
Othiyathur Ambedkar statue.
Synopsis: For nearly six years, an Ambedkar statue in Salem district’s Othiyathur village has been kept hidden from public view after objections from members of other communities over its posture. After members of the Adi Dravidar community removed the enclosure this month, clashes broke out, police lathi charged villagers and the statue was covered once again. The villagers are now seeking the withdrawal of the criminal cases, the removal of the police deployment and the formal unveiling of the statue.
On the western edge of Othiyathur village in Gangavalli taluk of Salem district stand three statues. One is of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Another is of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Kamaraj. The third is of Dr BR Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution.
But there is one crucial difference between Ambedkar’s statue and the other two. Installed in January 2021, it has not been inaugurated in the six years since. Instead, enclosed behind corrugated tin sheets, it stands hidden from public view, almost as though it has been imprisoned.
At midnight on 10 July, members of the village’s Adi Dravidar community removed the tin enclosure covering the statue. The following day, 11 July, after members of other communities allegedly objected, the police sealed the statue once again.
While peace talks were underway on one side, the police presence continued to increase on the other.
At one point, the police resorted to a lathi charge against residents. Authorities claimed that stones had been thrown at the police.
According to villagers, the police then chased and brutally assaulted members of the Adi Dravidar community, leaving several with serious head injuries. Fifteen young men from the same community have since been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. Among those arrested are TNPSC aspirants, graduates and daily wage workers.
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Othiyathur is a small village in Salem district with a population of fewer than 3,000 people. The village is home to roughly equal numbers of Adi Dravidars, Vanniyars and Oorali Gounders.
For several years, a small Ambedkar statue stood on Adi Dravidar natham land located on the western side of the village. In 2021, after the old statue deteriorated, residents from the Adi Dravidar community installed a new one.
The new statue depicts Ambedkar seated with one leg crossed over the other.
former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Chief Minister K. Kamaraj statue
According to members of the Adi Dravidar community, residents from other communities opposed its inauguration, contending that the posture was offensive and made them uncomfortable.
They allege that the protest was led by Ganesan, then recognised as a village leader from the Oorali Gounder community. Ironically, the same Ganesan had reportedly been the first person to contribute money when funds were raised for installing the statue.
Minutes from a peace meeting held at the Tahsildar’s office on 27 July, 2021 show that representatives from the opposing communities demanded that the statue should not depict Ambedkar sitting with his legs crossed and insisted that the posture be changed.
Representatives of the Adi Dravidar community responded that they would consult people in their locality and discuss it further in the next peace meeting.
The dispute soon reached the courts. In August 2021, a petition was filed seeking removal of the Ambedkar statue. Later that December, another petition sought directions to resolve the issue through peace talks and permit the statue to be unveiled.
The Madras High Court dismissed the petition seeking removal of the statue. In the second case, the court directed the authorities to consider the petitioner’s request through peace talks within four weeks before disposing of the matter.
According to residents, however, following a peace meeting in 2022, authorities completely enclosed the statue with tin sheets, leaving it hidden from public view.
Since then, villagers say, there has been virtually no progress for nearly five years.
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Residents say they regained hope after the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) formed the government in Tamil Nadu. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a member of the Adi Dravidar community told South First that villagers submitted a petition to the Chief Minister’s Cell seeking the reopening of the statue.
At the same time, they continued approaching local revenue authorities. According to villagers, on 25 June, they received a communication from Tahsildar Kathamuthu informing them that a peace meeting would be conducted.
Earlier, on 19 June, representatives of the community had met Social Justice Minister Vanniarasu. Subsequently, the minister’s Special Personal Assistant, M Mohanraja, issued a recommendation letter to the Salem District Collector.
The letter stated, “The Ambedkar statue installed on Adi Dravidar natham land bearing Survey No. 374/1 in Othiyathur village of Gangavalli taluk, Salem district, has been concealed with tin sheets, preventing the public from viewing it. You are requested to take appropriate action, in accordance with the rules, to remove the tin sheets and make the statue visible to the public.”
Following this, villagers met Salem District Collector K Elambahavath on 22 June. According to those present, the Collector summoned Deputy Tahsildar Pazhanimuthu and questioned why the statue of a national leader had remained covered. He reportedly instructed the official to conduct an inspection and submit a report within a week.
Villagers claim that during the following three Mondays, when they met the Collector again during grievance redressal meetings, the Deputy Tahsildar had still failed to inspect the site. They allege the Collector publicly reprimanded the official and warned of disciplinary action if the inspection was not completed.
According to villagers, Tahsildar Kathamuthu later informed them that an inspection would take place on Saturday, 11 July.
But before that, on the night of 10 July, Revenue Inspector Jaya allegedly telephoned a member of the Ambedkar Statue Committee.
According to one villager, the officer said, “We are under pressure from higher authorities. Open the statue after midnight when everyone is asleep. Tomorrow we’ll come after the issue comes to light and handle the situation.”
Villagers claim they possess an audio recording of the conversation. South First could not independently verify the authenticity of the recording.
The audio, now circulating widely on social media, features a woman identifying herself as a government official, allegedly assuring the villagers that they could remove the tin sheets and that the authorities would take care of any problems.
In the recording, the person said to be from the statue committee expresses concern, saying they had followed legal procedures for years and asks whether opening the statue might create problems.
The woman allegedly replies, “If any problem arises, we’ll handle it.”
Believing these assurances, villagers say they removed the tin enclosure.
As expected, on 11 July, members of the opposing communities staged a brief protest the following morning before dispersing.
However, later around 3 pm, police and revenue officials summoned representatives from the Adi Dravidar community for another peace meeting.
The representatives who spoke to South First said that only members of their community attended the meeting, and that they did not see representatives from the opposing side.
Officials, including Attur Revenue Divisional Officer Tamilmani, participated.
According to participants, Tamilmani questioned them, “Why did you install a statue with one leg crossed over the other? They say it hurts them. They say it insults them. They say they belong to a higher caste and that a statue installed by a Scheduled Caste community humiliates them. They feel as though the statue is kicking them. Why are you celebrating the reopening by posting WhatsApp statuses?”
One representative responded, “When I wear a good shirt, I wear it for myself, not to hurt someone else’s feelings.”
To this, they allege Tamilmani replied, “You should wear a shirt only after considering whether it hurts others. A person should dress according to his status.”
They further allege that Tamilmani suggested the Ambedkar statue need not face the road and instead could be turned around to face only the Adi Dravidar settlement.
According to the participants, the officer also said, “The statue will be opened only when law and order improves. That may take one month, one year, or even five years.”
South First contacted Attur Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Tamilmani and Salem District Collector K Elambahavath to seek their response to these allegations. However, neither responded to our calls before publication.
Meanwhile, villagers point out that even while the peace talks were taking place, fresh tin sheets had already been brought into the village to cover the statue once again, and hundreds of police personnel had been deployed.
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After the peace talks ended without any resolution, representatives returned to the village.
By then, around 50 residents had gathered near the statue. Police soon launched a lathi charge.
According to the FIR, more than 50 men and women led by Kaviarasan and Anbarasan had refused orders to disperse, staged a road blockade, shouted slogans against officials and argued with the police.
The FIR further alleges that members of the crowd picked up stones and hurled them at police officers with the intention of killing them, causing injuries to personnel on duty.
It also accuses the crowd of damaging CCTV cameras installed for security and barricades placed by the police.
The FIR further states that Sudalai Veerayan and Marina Duraisamy, the two women said to have suffered serious injuries, were injured after falling down and being struck by stones thrown by protesters.
Villagers strongly reject this version. They insist that both sustained severe injuries during the police assault.
Residents also allege that police entered homes and arrested anyone they could find. Fifteen people are currently lodged in Salem prison under judicial remand.
Those arrested include MSc, BSc and BE graduates, along with several TNPSC aspirants.
Speaking to South First, PR Thirumavalavan, a local leader of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and an advocate, said the party had been involved throughout the dispute.
“Our stand has always been that no action should be taken against whoever opened the statue, because no one knows who actually did it. We were present during the peace talks on July 11. During the meeting, one of the youths, Kaviarasan, repeatedly argued with the officials and addressed them disrespectfully. As a result, no resolution could be reached. Even before the violence broke out that evening, while officials were speaking to the public, Kaviarasan was provoking the crowd. At that point, someone from the gathering threw a stone. I personally saw it hit the officials. Only after that did everything unfold,” he said.
He further said that VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan, MP, visited Othiyathur on 16 July and met revenue officials. According to him, the officials assured the party that no action would be taken against anyone other than those found to be genuinely responsible, that the cases filed against others would be withdrawn, and that steps would be taken to facilitate the unveiling of the Ambedkar statue.
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Villagers say hundreds of police personnel continue to remain stationed in Othiyathur. They allege that young men between the ages of 18 and 40 are being stopped, intimidated and, in some cases, arrested if they enter the village.
As a result, several youths have chosen to stay away from their homes. The young men who spoke to South First said their immediate demands are simple. The criminal cases filed against the village youth should be withdrawn. The heavy police deployment should be removed.
“Only then can we move around freely and live peacefully,” they said. Anbarasan, who has been coordinating the movement, made an emotional appeal.
“There’s a new government in Tamil Nadu. Please ensure this issue reaches the attention of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. Ambedkar is a leader whose ideals he himself has embraced. Please help us ensure the statue is finally opened. And please help us get the cases against our youth withdrawn,” he said.
When contacted by South First, Social Justice Minister Vanniarasu said, “I am currently gathering details about the issue. Once I have the complete information, I will share it with you.”
