S. Keerthika(6), d/o Chandrasekaran, resident of Madappattu village, Thirunaavalur Union, Ulundurpet Taluk, Villupuram District, belongs to Dalit Vannaar community. She is studying 2^nd Std in Madapattu panchayat middle school. On 06/07/2010, during the lunch break, her friend and classmate, Sivaranjini asked Keerthika to come to her grandmother’s house. On the way to Sivaranjini’s grandmother house, they found guava tree in one Ayubkhan’s house. Hence they went inside and tried to pick guava fruits by standing on the septic tank, which was kept open. During plucking the guava fruits, Keerthika accidently fell into the septic tank. Sivaranjini who tried to pull her out, also fell into the septic tank. Sivaranjini managed to hold on to the iron rod and cried for help.  People around the place rushed to the spot and rescued Sivaranjini, but Keerthika was drowned inside the tank. Later the septic tank water was pumped out, and Keerthika was rushed to the hospital. But she was declared brought dead. As the death happened accidently, Keerthika’s parents have not filed a complaint. Ayubkhan paid Rs. 40000 as compensation to the victim’s family.

Legal Standard Breached:

1.       Whoever causes the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not
   amounting to culpable homicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either
   description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.[Sec. 304A of IPC].
2.       No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them, be subject to any disability, liability, restriction or condition with regard to - (a)  access  to  shops,  public  restaurants,  hotels  and  places  of  public entertainment. (15 (2)(a,b) of IC-FR).
3.       Whoever, being a public servant but not being a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, willfully neglects his/her duties required to be performed by him/her under this Act, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to one year [sec. 4 SC/ST (PoA) Act].
4.       No one shall be deprived of his/her right to life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law. [Art. 21 IC-FR, Art. 9 UDHR, & Art. 9(1) ICCPR].
5.       Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person [Arts. 3 UDHR, Art. 6(1) ICCPR & Art. 5(b) CERD].

Nedimozhiyanur village is in Tindivanam taluk, Villupuram district. In this village, Dalit colony is frequently affected by fire accidents for about three months on various occasions. On 14/05/2010, Kishore, a three year old child was succumbed to the fire accident and died. After this there was again a fire accident in this village and 8 houses with all the house hold things got completely ruined by the fire accident. Again on 07/07/2010 due to the fire accident two goats succumbed to the fire injury and died. Clothes of Karpaham and Rekha got destroyed by fire accident on another occasion. Hence Dalits of this village staged a road blockade requesting the government to take some action in this regard.

Because of this mysterious fire accidents and the losses, Dalits in this village were mentally disturbed and were living in constant fear. Students of this village stopped going to school. People fast becoming superstitious and many opportunists utilizing this situation started making money under the pretext of conducting pujas. This is leading to social unrest among the community. Government officials who were suppose to ensure safety and wellbeing of the Dalits in this situation, is seems to be irresponsive regarding the accidents. Affected victims of the fire accidents are not provided any relief and medical care.

Valupuran (19), S/o Murugan, belongs to Dalit Arunthathiyar community, working as a labour, is a resident of Madhapur Village, Palladam Taluk, Tirupur district. Palanisamy, belongs to Caste Hindu Kounder community, resident of Nallikoudanpalayam, was a Mini bus driver for the Local Mini Bus from Palladam Bus stand to Nallakoundaanpalayam via Madhapur. On 04/07/2010 around 6 pm, as usual Valupuran was waiting at the Palladam City Stop to return to his home. Palanisamy did not stop the bus at the Paladam city stop. Hence Valupuram chased and boarded the moving bus. He questioned Palanisamy for not stopping at the bus stop. This quarrel led to heated verbal dispute between Valupuran and Palanisamy. Palanisamy who felt insulted, have not stopped the bus at the Madhapur Bus Station. Valupuran objected him without making honorific reference. He stopped the bus at his home town Nallakoundanpalayam and verbally abused him saying, “sakkili dog, how dare you speak to me without giving respect”. He even assaulted him. When Valupuran said that he will complaint this to the police, Palanisamy broke the bus mirror on his own with the lever of his bus. Then he called up the police station and told that a Sakkili boy assaulted him. Then he and around 20 of his village people from his  community under Thangavel, Sundaram and Eswaran, brutally assaulted him.

Valupuran was admitted in the Palladam Government Hospital on 04/07/2010 and was admitted in the Coimbatore Government Hospital from 05/07/2010 to 13/07/2010. Palladam DSP Kamaraj entertained the false counter compliant filed by Palanisamy. Pongalur MLA A.S. Mani and Madhapur Panchayat President Mr. Muthurathinam were involved in this false complaint to be registered against the victim Valupuran. Valupuran and his family was not provided any monetary compensation regarding this brutal assault.

Kaliyammal (65) W/o Late Raman, is a widow, resident of Neelankalivalasu village, Moolanur, Tarapuram Taluk, Tirupur district, belongs to  Dalit Community. She is living in her own house, built on a two cent poromboke land given by the Government to her husband. Her son Mahalingam is in outstation. In 1969, when Raman was alive, Karuppasamy, belongs to dominant caste hindu kounder community, fraudulently got the ownership right over the land in writing form Raman. He never disclosed this matter to Kaliyammal. In 1986, with the motive to evict from her house and to grab the land, he transferred the ownership right over the land to Sivakumar, belongs to Dailt community. Until 2010, Karuppasamy never disclosed this matter to Kaliyammal. Palanisamy and Rajendran were in support of Karuppasamy in his fraudulent grab. On 01/07/2010, we brought some men and ordered them to demolish the house and he verbally abused her, referring derogatory regarding caste.

Thiruvengadam is a town panchayat, in Thirunelveli District. dominant caste Hindu Nayakkar community and Dalits are found to be majority in this town panchayat. Amudha, belongs to Dalit community, is doing tailoring course in Star Women Tailoring Centre. Police Inspector Jeyachandran aged 42 was indulged in eve teasing Amudha very often. Hence Amudha complained about the misdeeds of the Inspector to Mr. Mani, who also belongs to Dalit Community. Mani questioned the Inspector regarding eve teasing Amudha and objected him regarding this. Inspector Jeyachandran who felt humiliated by this episode decided to avenge him. On 01/07/2010, Jeyachandran called Mani to come to the Thiruvengadam Police Station under the pre text of an enquiry. Inspector brutally assaulted Mani. Mani was assaulted deafening his left ear, and he sustained severe injury all over his body. Advocate Mr. Senthamarai, bailed him out and Mani was admitted in the Government Hospital for medical treatment.

Inspector Jeyachandran involved in similar criminal activity even in the past. Thiruvengadam PS Sub-Inspector and other police men justified this brutal assault and refused to register the  complaint given on behalf of Mani. Police men purposefully invoked section 75 and forced him to pay the fine. Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 1998 have to be invoked against the erred inspector and need to be implicated for sexual harassment. Mani was not given proper medical treatment and not provided monetary relief regarding this. Police department is negligent to take action against the perpetrator.