According to sources, on Tuesday, miscreants threw cow dung on a drawing of a Dalit party’s flag, on the steps of a stream at Malavarayanatham. Around that time, two Dalits, Alexander (32), son of Thangadurai, and Immanuel Praveen (17), son of Micheal Raj, from Malavarayanatham, had noticed two caste Hindu youth roaming around the area on a bike.

The duo were identified as Nangaraja (25), son of Poolpandi, and Suresh (23), son of Vanamamalai, also from Malavarayanatham.

On Wednesday, Alexander and Praveen had informed the Dalit leaders that it was Nangaraja and Suresh who threw the cow dung at the drawing, following which the duo was questioned.

Irked by this, Nangaraja and Suresh attacked Alexander and Praveen with sickles in the evening, besides abusing them. Alexander managed to escape and informed other Dalits about the incident. In retaliation, they burnt Suresh’s bike. Suresh was admitted at the Tirunelveli GH for injuries in the head and left hand. Praveen too was hospitalised.

While both parties lodged complaints against each other, Nangaraja and Suresh were arrested for allegedly attacking Praveen.

A heavy posse of police personnel has been posted in the village to prevent any untoward incident.

SP M Durai claimed that personal vengeance between the four was the main reason behind the clash. When asked if peace talks would be conducted, he said that the villagers knew the exact reason behind the attack and hence question of peace talks did not arise.  He further said that the trouble mongers had been arrested and further clash would be averted.

Source :: The New Indian Express