Published: 13th August 2014 06:00 AM

PUDUKKOTTAI: Caste Hindus have forced people belonging to the Dalit community to ostracise one of their families as a youth from the family had published a book describing the atrocities of caste Hindus of the village and its vicinity.

Duraisamy (65) son of Silamban, a resident of  Kulathiranpattu (East) near Karambakudi lodged a petition with ES Uma, District Superintendent of Police.

He stated that his son, Guna, wrote and published a book titled Oorar Varaindha Oviyam (art painted by villagers) and it was released on July 12 at Gandhi park in Karambakudi.

Since then, various unknown persons made threats to him and his family members including Guna and his wife.

Later, on August 5, a section of Dalit residents including village panchayat president Thangaraj, Pilakurichi village panchayat vice president P Ganeshan, Manickam, Sasikumar and Sankaran, all belonging to Dalit community, came and asked him to vacate the village.

They said that the caste Hindus were angry about his son’s book. They wanted to send Duraisamy’s family from the village, he said.

They are reported to have further said, “The caste Hindus  dismissed  ten Dalits of the village from a quarry owned by a caste Hindu and barred Dalits from grazing cattle in their farm lands.

The Dalits further told  Duraisamy that the Caste Hindus said no Dalit should come to the village bazaar to buy anything and the caste Hindu shop keepers of the village also refused to do business with Dalits.

“Kulathiran pattu Dalits threatened us with dire consequences if your family does not leave the village immediately,” the Dalits told Duraisamy.

Following the threats of the caste Hindus and the representation from the Dalit community, Duraisamy said he had been staying in the outskirts of Karambakudi for the last five days and his daughter-in- law and grandsons were staying at their maternal grandparents’ house, fearing for life.

He urged police to take severe action against the Dalits who forced him to leave the village and the caste Hindus, who were behind the act.

His petition was directed to Alangudi, Deputy Superintendent of Police, for investigations into the entire issue.

Guna, writer of the book told Express, “Now I am in Chennai to make a living. Police should take severe action against caste Hindus who forced the Dalit residents to ostracise members of my family.”

 

Read mor ehere- http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/Dalit-Authors-Family-Ostracised-Over-Book/2014/08/13/article2377044.ece