A case has been registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, police assure arrest soon
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – A Dalit man was reportedly assaulted by a person from the upper caste in the Tamil Nadu district of Tiruppur for showing “disrespect” to him by not standing up and continuing to enjoy his tea in a roadside eatery.
A case has been registered against M. Senniyappan (50), a member of a dominant community, under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for allegedly assaulting 36-year-old K. Karuppusamy over the tea-drinking incident.
The victim, Karuppusamy, is employed by the Thurampadi village panchayat. According to police sources, the problem began on December 17 when Karuppusamy was sipping tea at a Moolanur bakery.
“Senniyappan arrived at the bakery, sat down, and ordered tea. After finishing, he allegedly stared at Karuppusamy and left,” a police source said.
The following day, Senniyappan confronted Karuppusamy near a petrol bunk in Nathapalayam. “He waylaid Karuppusamy, beat him up, and kicked him. The attack seems to have been triggered by the belief that Karuppusamy should have stood up or moved away when Senniyappan sat down at the bakery,” media reports said on Saturday.
Karuppusamy, who sustained injuries, is currently receiving treatment at Dharapuram Government Hospital.
A case has been registered against Senniyappan under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the SC/ST (POA) Act. Dharapuram Deputy Superintendent of Police, S. Suresh Kumar, confirmed that a search is underway for the accused. “He will be arrested soon,” Kumar said.
Atrocities of Dalits by upper castes have been noticed from time immemorial in the hierarchical caste system of the country, especially among Hindus. But, of late a surge has been seen in cases across the country, particularly in the northern states. Recently, a Dalit groom was mistreated simply because he was riding a chariot during his wedding procession. Upper caste persons created a ruckus claiming that a Dalit is not entitled to use a chariot. Similarly, a Dalit police constable in Uttar Pradesh bore the brunt of the upper caste people when his wedding procession passed through their area.
