Tirunelveli SC Villagers Allege Night Attack, Seek Collector's Protection
Members of Scheduled Caste (SC) communities from Ashokapuram in Mela Karunkulam near Tirunelveli have approached District Collector Anand Mohan with a petition seeking protection and legal action against a group of ten individuals whom they accuse of attacking their houses and using casteist slurs. The memorandum, submitted on Monday, states that the group entered their village at around 1:25 a.m. on August 22 and pelted stones at their homes.
The petitioners, who reside in the SC colony of Ashokapuram, allege that this is the second such assault on their community. According to their complaint, a similar attack had occurred on April 20 last year, when a mob carrying lethal weapons entered the village. Residents who resisted were reportedly chased by the attackers. Following that incident, an FIR was filed with the Melapalayam police. However, the petitioners say that the police also registered a counter-case against SC youth of Ashokapuram, based on a complaint from the opposing side.
In their present petition, the villagers express frustration that no case has been registered even after the alleged second attack. They said, “This is the second attack on our houses as a similar assault was unleashed on April 20 last by the intermediate caste members. Those who resisted the attack were chased by the mob carrying lethal weapons. When we filed a complaint with the Melapalayam police, the first information report was registered. At the same time, the police also registered a case against SC youth of Ashokapuram after based on the complaint from the opponents. This time, no case has been registered till today even after the emboldened attackers carried out the second assault, which creates a suspicion on the police itself.”
The residents have urged the Collector to direct the police to register a case and provide adequate security to their village. They have also asked for a fair investigation into both the attacks, including the alleged bias in the earlier registration of a counter-case.
Separately, P. Sathya, an office-bearer of the Naam Thamizhar Katchi, submitted another petition to the Collector regarding civic issues in Kattarankulam village in Manur union. She pointed out that a newly constructed overhead water tank in the village has been non-functional for the past two years, as the local panchayat reportedly lacks funds to install a new motor. As a result, villagers are forced to rely on an old, leaking overhead tank, which supplies drinking water for only 30 minutes twice a week.
Ms. Sathya requested the Collector to allocate funds for purchasing a motor for the new tank and to take legal action against the contractor responsible for constructing the faulty and leaking overhead tank. She also drew attention to an open well near the Kattarankulam anganwadi, which she said should be properly fenced and covered with a metal mesh to ensure safety. Additionally, she asked for repairs to the dilapidated ration shop building in the village.
The petitions come amid growing concerns over caste-based violence and inadequate basic infrastructure in rural parts of Tamil Nadu. Scheduled Castes are protected under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, which mandates prompt registration of FIRs and strict action against offenders. The Collector's office has received the petitions, and further action is awaited.
