Thiyahavalli Panchayat is in Kurunjipaadi Taluk, Cuddaore District. This panchayat comprises of 12 villages. Dalits are in majority in this panchayat. All these villages lack adequate transport and drinking water facilities. Most of the villagers travels to Cuddalore or Poondiankuppam for their livelihood and education purpose. There are only two government buses during the morning hours one at 8am and 10am. Due to lack of bus frequency, buses will be crowded all the time. Whenever students and daily workers misses the bus, they have to go by the boat crossing Uppalaru river to reach their destination or they miss their studies and job.

On 27/01/2010, students from Nandhan Nagar and Vallalar nagar misses the 8 am bus. Hence 40 people from these two villages with the majority of students boarded a boat to cross Uppalaru river. Students operated the boat themselves. In the midst of the crossing, due to over crowd, the boat overturned in the river. All the people fell in to the river and they cried for help. On hearing the cry, people from Sangalakuppam village rescued them and took them to the hospital. Some of the students sustained severe injury. Since they drank the water during the boat overture, students fell ill and had vomiting problem. Again the victims were sent to Cuddalore Government Hospital, for medical assistance.

Villagers of the Thiyahavalli Panchayat filed many petitions with the district administration seeking provision of adequate transport facilities, construction of a bridge over the Uppalaru river and to provide drinking water facilities. But the District Administration is negligent to fulfill the demands of the people. Accidents and pregnancy deaths are quite common in these villages due to lack of proper bus facilities.

Brief facts of the Incident:

Challa Yesamma (37) W/o. Shivayya, ST by Caste, R/o. Bochupet (V) Kankipadu (M), sells wind pipe for their livelihood. She didn’t had children for 15 years, therefore she underwent special treatment and became pregnant. On the advice of the doctors at Kankipadu, Yesamma joined in the Govt. Hospital at Vijayawada on 19.01.2010.  On the same day she gave birth to a baby. On 5^th day she was shifted to general ward. On the early hours i.e around 3’o clock, Yesamma got up, found her baby missing and she informed the same to her sister-in-law. Immediately she informed to the person in charge, they in return informed to III Town P.S. The police pressed the dog squad into force but in vain.

Victim’s Plea: No one can enter into the Hospital. It is only the staff on duty has done it. Therefore the hospital authorities should be held responsible. My baby is with them. I want my baby back.

Comments of the Superintendent and the duty doctor:

Superintendent:  S.B. Lal

I was on leave on the date of incident; I received a call around 3 o’clock, immediately I informed it to concern P.S.  I suspended the nurse, sweeper and watchman holding them responsible for the Incident. Further I appointed a committee with Dr. Subrahmanyam and Dr. Rajalakshmi to conduct departmental enquiry.  I also suspect parents and the relatives of baby for this occurrence.

Duty Doctor:

We are not responsible for this act.  Mother consumed alcohol and slept off; she herself might have sold the baby as it’s their habit. Moreover once mother is shifted to general ward we are not responsible.

Rajeshwari (15), daughter of Aseervatham, is resident of P.S.Raja Nagar, Arumuganeri, Thiruchendur Taluk, Thoothukudi District. She belongs to Dalit Arunthathiyar community, and studying 9^th std in Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Arumuganeri. Dharmakumar S/o Kovilraj, belongs to dominant caste hindu nadar community and resident of PS Raja Nagar, used to harass Rajeshwari. He used to harass her along with his friends, stalks her all the time.

On 24/01/2010 11 am while Rajeshwari went to the stationery shop. On seeing Dharmakumar along with his friends, she went to another shop of the adjacent street. On noticing this, Dharmakumar followed and harassed her. He pulled her by her hand and asked where she is going?. Rajeshwari warned him and shouted for help. Dharmakumar told that no one could stop him and no one dare to question him. Again he intimidated her. Rajeshwari cried for help. Hence he ranaway from the place of incident. On returning to the house, she reported about this incidents to her mother. Ms. Kani, mother of Rajeshwari went to Dharmakumar’s house and asked his parents to warn him and to advise him not to do such things. But Dharmakumar’s parents and sisters, replied that why you are shouting as if your daughter was raped by my brother. Since there is no girls from our community, he will indulge in such things with the Sakkilis. Again they told that being a man he will do such things and asked Rajeshwari to go away. Kovilraj, father of Dharmakumar, threatened to kill them with a sickle. They verbally abused them referring derogatory regarding caste and unprintable words. Hence Rajeshwari and her mother came back home. Kovilraj followed them with the sickle upto their house and again verbally abused them and threatened them. People plucked the sickle from him and asked to go away.

A complaint was given regarding this atrocity with the Arumuganeri Police station. The perpetrator Dharmakumar was arrested and the police have not taken any action against Kovilraj and his daughters. 

S. Durai (42), resident of Aalampoondi Village, Gingee Taluk, Villupuram District, is doing Biscuit wholesale business. His daughter Jothi Meena aged 11, is studying 6^th Standard in St. Michael Higher Secondary School, Gingee. His son Jothibasu (14), is also studying in the same school. Jothimeena’s Grandmother’s house is in Aerikarai Village, Gingee.

On 22/01/2010, 4.30 pm, Jothimeena went to her grandmother’s house. After a while, to go back to her home, she was walking towards Theasurpattai, to board a bus to her village. While she was walking towards the bus stand, one person named Munuswamy, who was unknown to her, riding a Hero Honda Bike, stopped the bike and asked her name. Then he told that he knew their school where she was studying and also the class teacher Sahayam. When Jothimeena told that she is going to her home in Aalampoondi village, Munusamy told that he will drop her in her village since he is going to her village to meet Sahayam Teacher to repay the debt. When Jothimeena refused to go with him, he started threatening her with a knife. He told that he will kill her if she refuses to come with him. Due to fear, Jothimeena went with him.

Munusamy took her to a isolated spot in the outskirts of Gingee and sexually assaulted her. Munusamy bitten her all over body and her lips. He forcefully attempted to have sexual relationship with her. Then he threatened her that he will kill her and do the same to her mother if she reveal this to others. On her return to the house, he reported this atrocity to her brother and parents. Then she was taken to the Villupuram  Government Hospital for medical assistance. On 23/01/2010, her parents filed a complaint with the Gingee Police station. Munusamy was arrested for this heinous crime. 

K. Mannagkatti,  (55), resident of Vellaiampattu village, Kaanai union, Villupuram District. belongs to Dalit Paraiyar community. He is a farm labourer. On 19/01/2010, Mannagkatti, Paramasivan, Vigi and Sathish, ploughed the land of Kovindhan Kounder. On 20/01/2010, Mannagkatti and others were working in the Ayyavu Kounder land, which is adjacent to Kovindan’s land. Kovindhan came to visit his land. On seeing Kovindhan, Mannagkatti asked him to give the wage for the work done. In reply Kovindhan told that his son will pay the amount. When Mannagkatti asked Krishnan s/o Kovindhan to pay the wage. Krishnan verbally abused him referring derogatory regarding caste. He accused him of haphazard work. When Mannagkatti objected this, Kovindhan pushed him down and tried to beat him with a big lathi. Paramasivam who came to the rescue of Mannangkatti, was injured while blocking the lathi. Then Mannagkatti and Paramasivam rushed to the Anandhapuram Police station to file the complaint. In the mean time Kovindhan filed a complaint against the victims. Kovindhan, Krishnan, Mannagkatti were kept under custody. Both the parties were released on the next day.