Karuppur village is in Chidambaram Taluk, Cuddalore District. Since there is no sufficient public transport for these villagers, private mini bus is the only alternate option. Droupathi Mini Bus belongs to caste hindu Vanniyaor community, runs from Chidambaram to Melaparunthukudi goes via karuppur village. All through the route of this bus, in all the villages, vanniyars are found to be in  majority. Vanniyar youths used to play caste centric songs in the bus and they used to make fun of dalits men and women. Many times Dalits were subject to physical assault by the vanniyars in this bus. Rajini belongs to vanniyar community, resident of Karuppur village used to instigate vanniyars of Thithukudi village to orchestrate such physical attack with whom he develops enimity.

On 10/02/2010, as usual vanniyar youths were playing caste centric songs in the bus. At that time, some one in the bus shouted at them to stop the music. Hence infuriated and intolerant vanniyar youths namely, Karthick, M. Venkateshan and Rajendran, verbally abused the Dalits and asked the Dalits to identify the man who asked to stop playing the song. They brutally assaulted Kajendran, Mahendran, and Venkatesan. When they stopped at the Thithukudi village, they pulled out Kajendran, Mahendran, and Venkatesan and agains attacked them. They asked the vanniyars to attack all the dalits of Karuppur village. When Tamilvaanan, came to their rescue, the perpetrators attacked Tamilvaanan. The perpetrators asked the Karuppur villagers to apologize. Tamilvaanan said sorry on behalf of the Karuppur villagers and then the perpetrators left them.

Tamilvaanan called up 108 for ambulance assistance. Kajendran, Mahendran, and Venkatesan were sent to Chidambaram Government Hospital for medical treatment. Since the victims are not interested to file a complaint fearing further assault and their dependency on the dominant caste hindu vanniyars, the case was compromised.

Karuppasamy (25), S/o Palanisamy, resident of Harijan Colony, Mathiapalayam, Coimbatore District, belongs to Dalit Arunthathiyar community. He is working as a Painter. On 10/02/2010, around 5 pm, he boarded a bus from Kovai Town Hall bus stand to return to his house. He sat next to one Raj kumar belonging to Kounder community. Raj kumar looked down at him and scolded him saying “can’t you give respect”. Sakthivel and Gokul Prasad, belongs to Kounder community, who were also travelling in that bus, made fun of Karuppasamy. Hence irritated Kandhasamy, raised objection to this. Intolerant and infuriated Sakthivel, Rajkumar and Gokul Prasad, verbally abused him referring derogatory regarding caste and assaulted him. Pradeep, belongs to dalit Arunthathiyar community, came to his rescue and pacified the perpetrators. Then Rajkumar called friends on the phone and asked them to wait at the Mathiapalayam Bus stand. When the bus reached the Mathiapalayam bus stand, Raj Kumar’s friends Raj Kumar, Nandha Kumar, Devaraj and Sukumaran joined the attack and brutally assaulted the two hapless dalits. Karuppasamy and Pradeep tried to escape the on slaught, they ran through the Maruthan’s house (belongs to Arunthathiyar community and relative of Karuppasamy), The perpetrators caught them with the help of Prabakaran (kounder community) and again along with Prbakaran, they brutally assaulted him. Karuppasamy and Pradeep sustained severe injury all over his body. On noticing the Arunthathiyars coming to their rescue, the perpetrators escaped from the scene.

Karuppasamy filed a complaint with the DSP regarding this atrocity. FIR was filed against the perpetrators, but the Police department is negligent to take action the perpetrators. The perpetrators bribed the police men, who were asked to provide security to the victims and witnesses. The victims and dalits were living in anxiety fearing mass atrocity by the dominant caste hindu Kounder community people. 

K. Sridhar (20) s/o B. Kuppusamy, is a resident of Anumandhai Village, Marakkanam Union, Tindivanam Taluk, Villupuram district. He is pursuing B.Com Ist year in the Siddha Sivagana Mens Arts College in Pommiarpalayam. Shridhar was subject to ragging by his classmates namely Thayanithi, Vetrivel and Surendhar. These three students used to make fun of him, and they beaten him several times. They teased him by throwing Chalk Piece at him and beat him with the rolled paper. Sridhar was silent about this harassment for a long time. On 04/02/2010, Thayanithi, Vetrivel and Surendhar, indulged in throwing chalk piece him and beaten him with rolled paper. Hence Sridhar scolded them and during the afternoon they took away his lunch and ate it. In retaliation, Sridhar scolded them. Intolerant and infuriated three students thrown stones at him. Sridhar sustained moderate injuries at his shoulder. After going to home, he reported about this harassment and abuse to his father and told him that he won’t go to school from tomorrow. Kuppusamy pacified him and told him that he will speak to the Principal regarding this.

On 25/02/2010, Sridhar and his father Kuppusamy met the College Principal V. Nagarajan, and reported about the abuse and harassment by the three students. Principal asked to give the complaint in writing and promised that he will take action against the erring students. On his return to the class room, again Thayanithi, Vetrivel and Surendhar attacked him for reporting this to the Pricipal and threatened him. Hence Sridhar shouted at them loudly, saying I won’t come to college and walked out of the class room. Since he looks disturbed, he was sent to home along with his friend Micheal Raj. He reported about this to his father and his brother through phone and told them that he will not go to college any more. They pacified him saying, that they will report to the principal to take action against the three students. Sridhar who was not pacified and out of despair and humiliation, set ablaze himself around 5.30 pm. He was admitted in the Jipmer Government Hospital. On 06/02/2010, Sridhar died at the hospital, succumbing to the fire wounds. A case was filed against Thayanithi, Vetrivel and Surendhar under section 306 of IPC and Section 4 of TN Prohibition of Ragging Act 1997 and they were arrested.

Brief details of the Incident:

In the year 1999 Vijay Lakshmi (mother of Jyothi) came to Arepalli Village, Husnabad Mandal, Karimnagar District in search of job. There she used to work on daily wages along with her cousin sister. She married Srinivas and gave birth to Jyothi. Subsequently Srinivas became insane and disappeared from that place. Vijay Lakshmi searched for him, but in vain. After having come to know that Srinivas is no more, she came back to Hyderabad and earned her livelihood by picking up scrap papers. She was staying with her sister. She came in touch with Venkataiah and married him. She gave birth to baby and a boy. Unable to bear the harassment of Venkataiah, she committed suicide. Vijay Lakshimi’s cousin sister was taking care of the children and after some time Venkataiah took back the children. Jyothi got matured and Venkataiah’s eyes fell on her. Venkataiah used to bring toddy mixed with opium and forced Jyothi to drink daily. Later taking advantage of the situation, he used to sexually exploit her. He has warned her of dire consequences and not to reveal to anybody. On 2^nd February 2010 as Jyothi started vomiting, immediately she was taken to the Hospital by Shankaramma and Radika their neighbours. It was confirmed that she was 4 months pregnant. On insistence she revealed that it was her step father Venkataiah. Having come to know, DSS intervened and got the case registered. 

Geeta (8 years) has been living in the village Ghatoli with her mother and 4 siblings. She lost her father some years ago. Her mother works as a daily wages laborer and thus earns her livelihood. She used to pick wooden sticks for fuel. As per routine, she went to the fields to pick some sticks with her younger brother and sister. While they were going back home, a boy named Shiv Singh came to them and asked Geeta to help him lift his bunch of grass and for this he offered her a rupee. She agreed to help him and sent her brother and sister home. He took her 2-3 fields ahead. When Geeta doubted and tried to run away, the culprit caught her and took her to a distant mustard field. He clutched her mouth with his hand, took out a knife and threatened her that if she shouts, he would kill her with that knife. Then he flung her on the ground, stripped off her clothes and raped her. After that he ran away leaving Geeta in that pitiable state.

Geeta somehow got up and went to her uncle and brother who were playing cricket in the nearby fields. When they saw Geeta in such a pitiable condition, they stood up on the roof of a room built near the well nearby and saw a person running. They identified him as Shiv Singh resident of Nagla Semar, who is living at his grandfather Gopal Gurjar’s home since 3 years. They tried to catch the culprit but were unable in doing so. They went to the place of incident and picked her clothes and slippers from there.

When her uncle took her to police station to lodge FIR against the culprit, police officials denied registering their complaint with an excuse that elections are on head and no in-charge is there at the police station to lodge a complaint and asked them to come next day. Thus next day i.e. on 2^nd February 2010 the report was lodged. Geeta was taken to Government Hospital, Bharatpur but there they denied to examine her and directed her to Zanana Hospital. From there also she was directed to B.M. Hospital. Due to this delay, her medical examination took place at 5:30 pm.

Police did not intervene in the case with seriousness. Police denied registering victim’s complaint with an excuse that elections are on head and no in-charge is present there at the police station to lodge a complaint and asked them to come next day. Police did not inspect the place of incident even after 15 days of incident. Police even failed to provide safety and security to the victim. Police arrested the culprit. Administration did not play an admirable role. No official inspected the incident site even after 15 days. C.O. did not comment on the case. Reader to C.O. said that this may be an allegation due to rivalry among the families because of elections. However, Administration granted the victim a statutory monetary relief of Rs. 50,000/- for which she was eligible and entitled under rule 12(4) of SC/ST (PoA) Act, 1989.

Geeta’s medical was conducted on the next day of incident. The Government Hospital did not examine her and directed her to Zanana Hospital from where again she was directed to B.M. hospital. Her medical took place at 5:30 pm. The medical officer did not give any opinion regarding the occurrence of rape and counted on FSL report. The culprit was arrested. The charge sheet against the culprit was submitted to the court. District court rejected his bail plea, but he was granted bail from High Court, Jaipur. The case is pending for trial in sessions court Bharatpur. Due to this incident, the victim is in trauma. She has confined herself at her home. Till now she has not become normal. She even does not understand what has happened with her. People in the society pinpoint her as the one who has been raped. The case is pending in the session court, Bharatpur for trial.