Brief detail of the Incident:

Jakkala Nirmala Kumari is working as an accountant in DWACRA Mahila Samakhya Sangam in Anaparthi, East Godavari district Sarakanam Veda Kumari, Keshana Kurthi Durga and Mugidi Lakshmi are working as Assistant Project Manager, Office Bearer and Village Organiser respectively. Loans were sanctioned to the Samakhya for SC, STs. According to this scheme the SC, STs Taking loans for the first time are eligible. But Veda Kumari and Durga have decided to sanction the loan to a group called Daya. They forced Nirmala to issue the cheque in favour of Daya group. When Nirmala said that she would issue the cheque after consulting the Accounts Officer, Veda Kumari and Durga became furious. They threatened her saying that they would terminate her job. Nirmala had to issue the cheque in that helpless situation.

Veda Kumari was transferred and A. Varalakshmi joined as Assistant Project Manager. A loan of Rs. 1, 33,000/- was sanctioned once again under the supervision of Mandal Coordinator. In the General Body meeting conducted for this loan the village organizers and animators asked for the previous loan’s account.  When Nirmala said that the amount was sanctioned to Daya group,  Varalakshmi asked them about the details. Daya group replied that they did not receive any such loan. A statement was recorded as such from Daya group and Veda Kumari. Since then the harassment on Nirmala Kumari has increased.

Veda Kumari, Durga and Lakshmi reported to the MDO that Nirmala’s character is not good and she has extra-marital relations with others and if such people are employed the reputation of the organization would go down. But the MDO did not care their words. On 18.01.2010, at about 3.30 p.m. Veda Kumari, Durga and Laksmi came to Nirmala and abused her in filthy language in the name of caste. They threatened her that they would portray her as a prostitute so that she will loose her job and also she will never get married. They again complained to the MDO. MDO has enquired and come to know the facts. He admonished Veda Kumari, Durga and Lakshmi.

Nirmala Kumari has lodged a complaint in Anaparthi PS.  As Shesha Ratnam, M.P.P was in the favor of the accused, the DSP interrogated the victim only.  The case was registered after the Rasta Roko (public action).  The district level leaders of Samaikhya pressurized Nirmala Kumari to withdraw the complaint or else she will lose her job.  

Jehaveerapandianpuram is in Ottapidaram Taluk, Thoothukudi District. This village is home to nearly 100 Dalit Pallan community families and 30 Dalit Arunthathiyar community families. This particular settlement lacks basic facilities for decent standard of living. There is no proper road facilities and drainage facilities. There is no burial ground for the people of this village. This particular village people are prone to health related diseases. But other villages which are home to dominant caste hindu Nayakkar communities, are provided with Cement Road facilities and Proper drainage facilities. In the Nayakkar neighborhood every three houses are provided with drinking water tap facilities. In the Jehaveerapandianpuram, there is only on drinking water tap is provided for all the 100 families. The Block development Office and the District administration is negligent to provide the basic facilities for dalit people. Even after repeated complaints Panchayat president and Vice-president are negligent to fulfill the basic facilities. But in the notice board, it was mentioned as if all the basic facilities have been provided to the village. Even after repeated complaints to the higher officials, there is no proper response from the higher authorities of the concerned departments. District Administration is making promises and not mindful to fulfill those promises.

On 19/01/2010, Dalits belonging to this village, filed a complaint with the District Magistrate seeking the provision of road, drainage, drinking water facilities and other benefits for the well being of the people of this village.

Vallanadu region of Srivaikundam Taluk, Thoothukudi District is prone to caste conflicts between Dalit Pallan community and dominant caste hindu Devar community. During December 2013, Free food was delivered at Kalilasanathar Temple, Murappanadu. At this event, Dalits youths were verbally abused and assaulted by Devar community youths. Again during pongal festival, Kabaadi competition was organized in Alwaarkulam near Srivaikundam. As the youths of Murappanadu devar community youths ridiculed and abused the Dalits of Keelputhaneri village, Dalits assaulted the caste hindu youths.

M. Dharmaraj (17), resident of Keelputhaneri village, belongs to dalit pallan community, was on his way to the school (located in Thirunelveli) in the Government bus. S. Prabakaran, resident of Paraikulam village, belongs to Dalit pallan community, pursuing Ist year B.A. in MTT College (located in Trinelveli) was also travelling in the same bus. As the bus was reaching Uthamapandiakulam Busstop, around 15 youths belongs to dominant caste hindu Devar community, who came in a mini van with deadly weapons, obstructed the bus by standing on the road with all of them holding hands together. They get inside the bus and asked the pallan community people of Keelputhaneri village to standup. Then they caught hold Dharmaraj and Prabakaran, and pulled them outside the bus. The bus moved off. Then the mob brutally assaulted the two students with deadly weapons. They kicked at their sex organs inflicting severe pain. Dharmaraj after sustaining severe injury managed to escape. The mob after brutally assaulting Prabakaran, on seeing the arrival of  a Government bus escaped from the place of incident.

After reaching their homes, they reported the brutal assault inflicated by the caste hindu mob. Both were hospitalized at the Paalai Government Hospital for medical treatment. Dalits of  Murappanadu, staged a protest and road blockade seeking arrest and legal action against the perpetrators. As the police department promised to take action regarding this atrocity, the villagers of th victim dispersed. 

The victim is a member of Vankar community and she belongs to schedule caste category. She is a student of first year B.Com of Nathiba Commerce College. She stays with her parents. She was raped by seven to eight accused persons. She had complainant agaisnt the accused and police registered FIR 376(1)(g) 342, 506(2) and 114 of IPC and under section 3(1)(12), 3(2)(5) Of SC/ST Act.

She had made application for the appointment of special public prosecutor in the case to get justice. She had given the name of the lady advocate from Ahmedabad to persue her case. The advocate was appointed in the case of Patan gang rape.

Rajiv Gandhi (27) S/o Sivaperumal, resident of Deviyanathal village, Thirunavalur Union, Ulundupet Taluk, Villupuram district, belongs to Dalit Paraiyar community. Perumal Kovil street is the only way for the dalits to reach their homes. On 15/01/2010, Naidus of the Deviyananthal village were celebrating Pongal festival on the Perumal Kovil Street disrupting the regular traffic. They used to celebrate Pongal festival at Mandakarai. Rajiv Gandhi bought a new TATA AC car and he planned to conduct Puja for that at Aanjanayer temple. On 15/01/2010, while he was driving his new car through the Perumal Kovil Street, caste hindu Naidus, stopped him and warned him not to come by this way. After conducting the puja for his newly bought car, he came by the same way thinking that the Naidus might have completed their pongal festival. Kannan and Kuppusamy, belongs to Naidu community stopped his car and assaulted him. On his return to his house, Rajiv Gandhi reported this to his father. Hence His father Sivaperumal,and brothers Karthikeyan, Daivasihamani, enquired with Kannan and Kuppusamy about this attack. Intolerant and infuriated Naidus, who could not digest the assertion of Dalits, brutally assaulted them. Then Naidus started throwing stones at them. On seeing this atrocity Dalits came to their rescue. Around 50 Naidu community people started throwing stones at the gathered Dalits. Dalits retaliated by throwing stones at Naidus. Due to this scuffle, 15 dalits have sustained severe injury and were hospitalized.

Following this atrocity, Dalits were denied to access shops and flour mills owned by Kuppusamy Naidu. Dalits were objected to tie their cattles on the road side. A peace meeting was convened and both the Naidus and Dalits reached a compromise. No case was filed regarding this atrocity.