Atrocities against Tribes (Irula) in Thenneri Villege
By vigilindia 20:35 appeals , feature
18 June 2012
The Chairman
National Human Rights Commission
Faridkot House
Copernicus Marg
New Delhi-110001
Respected Sir,
The Vigil India Movement has received information from ‘Makkal Mandram’ a NGO working in Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu concerning the case of atrocities against the tribal (Irula) community living in Thenneri Village, Walajabad Taluk, Kanchipuram District. The case narrative indicates that the marginalized (Irula) communities who have approached the Government to get proper deed of the land owned by them for several years with the help of ‘Makkal Mandram’ have been targeted and brutally attacked by the upper caste Landlords. This incident not only indicates discrimination against the vulnerable community but also shows the arrogant and autocratic attitudes of the upper caste people towards the marginalized.
Vigil India appeals to the Human Rights Commission to intervene in the case and lead a proper investigation and take necessary action to protect the rights of the tribes in Thenneri Village.
Case Narrative as received:
A terrible atrocity is unfolding against the Irula people in Thenneri village at the hands of the dominant Mudaliar caste. There are 10 Irula families living in Thenneri Village, Walajabad Taluk, Kancheepuram District. Irulars are an adivasi community (listed as scheduled tribe) mainly living in Northern districts of Tamil Nadu. In this village, they are living on government land (Natham Porambokku) for the past 15 years. Two Irula families are living on a piece of land which is close to the property owned by one Ekambaram Mudaliar. He has encroached around an acre of porambokku land including the piece of land on which these two Irula families live. This Ekambaram Mudaliar is a landlord who is running several businesses.
In the past few months, these 10 families had applied for caste certificate and title deed (patta) for the land on which they live, with the help of Makkal Mandram. Karthi, an Irula youth from Thenneri village, is very active in Makkal Mandram for several years. As a result of the initiative taken by the people and regular follow up, the 10 families managed to get their caste certificates during the last week. The Revenue District Officer (RDO) of Kancheepuram, who gave these certificates, had also conducted an enquiry about the ownership of land and had assured these people that they will be given title deed (pattas) for the porambokku land on which they have their homesteads.
Since the moment Ekambaram Mudaliar came to know of this plan of the government, he tried to coerce the two Irula families to vacate their houses and leave the village, as if they were doing so voluntarily. They refused to do so. The other Irula families in the village supported them.
On the night of 16.06.2012, Ekambaram Mudaliar, his son-in-law Abel who is a former Councilor, accompanied by a gang of ten persons came to these two Irula houses. One family is a woman headed household. Punitha, a 45 years old widow lives with her son Sivamani who is 21 and daughter Renu who is 17. The other family comprises Doraisamy, who is around 40, his visually handicapped wife, Perundevi and their five children. Their oldest son is 15 years old.
This violent mob came, threatened and abused the Irula people. They brought a tractor and stationed it very close to these two Irula houses. The gang repeatedly called them Irula dogs and used the most vulgar swear words. They kept intimidating the two families that they won’t be alive if they didn’t leave the Mudaliar land. They stoned the houses heavily. Several members of these two Irula families got hurt due to the stones. The light bulb hanging outside the huts broke. These family members were dragged out, pushed, jostled and beaten up. They kept asking for Karthi repeatedly. This went on for a long time. All the Irula families resisted and refused to leave the village.
Earlier in the day, Ekambaram Mudaliar had gone to the Walajabad Police Station to give a complaint against these two families, stating they had encroached upon his land. The Sub Inspector, Thulasirajan called Punitha to the station. At around 6 O’clock in the evening, Makkal Mandram activists accompanied Punitha to the Station and brought out the facts viz., that it was porambokku land on which these families were living for the past 15 years, which was in fact encroached by Ekambaram Mudaliar. Further, RDO enquiry was over and he had given an assurance that title deeds to that very piece of land would be given to the Irula families soon. The police agreed that it was a civil matter and beyond their jurisdiction. They let Punitha go home.
Today morning viz 17.06.2012 at 6 AM, Ekambaram Mudaliar and Abel returned with a bigger gang of hired henchmen (around 50 persons) lethally armed with sticks and stones. Some of the goondas who came with them are Dalits living in the Thenneri Dalit colony. They forcibly dragged the two families out of their homes. Then the gang entered these two homes and threw out the utensils, clothes and other things on the road. As other Irula families gathered, they were also brutally attacked with sticks and stones along with members of these two families. Karthi was specifically targeted and attacked. The thatched roof of the houses was broken and pulled apart. The tractor parked since last night was used to bulldoze the mud walls. The gang snatched the cell phones of the Irula people to prevent them from calling for help. Even grievously hurt persons were forcibly kept in confinement in the village. Somehow Karthi and Punitha escaped and reached Makkal Mandram at around 8 O’clock.
The others were repeatedly and beaten up with sticks, stones, hands etc continuously. They were kicked even after they fell down. They were abused in the foulest language with many casteist slurs and threatened to be thrown out of the village once and for all. This horrendous treatment went on till 12 noon. Makkal Mandram kept calling all the higher police officials in Kancheepuram district since 8 AM to send some police personnel to protect the Irula people. The police kept assuring that a team was on its way. Since the situation was worsening by the moment, Makkal Mandram went directly to the DSP’s office and Walajabad Police Station to follow up. It was only then that six police men were sent to Thenneri village along with the Makkal Mandram team. It was only after they reached the village, that the Irula people were rescued, brought and admitted to Kancheepuram Government Hospital.
Thirteen persons have been admitted to hospital with various injuries. The names of the persons are:
Punitha w/o. Narayan – Age 45
Karthi s/o. Mani – Age 27
Mahesh s/o. Mani - Age 23
Manogaran s/o. Parthiban - Age 21
Jayappan s/o. Parthiban – Age 18
Satish s/o. Parthiban – Age 16
Sivamani s/o. Narayanan – Age 21
Yuvaraj s/o. Devaraj – Age 21
Koteeswaran s/o. Ramesh – Age 18
Ari s/o. Ramesh – Age 19
Palani s/o. Boopalan – Age 20
Satya s/o Doraisamy – Age 15
Doraisamy s/o Chinnasamy – Age 40
Most of them have internal injuries. Many were kicked on the chest. Doraisamy has chest pain and difficulty in breathing. Palani has a fracture in his left hand. Mahesh can’t hear since he was hit on the side of the face. Punitha’s right hand is badly swollen. Karthi was punched in the stomach and chest repeatedly and has severe chest pain.
Meanwhile, Karthi has lodged a complaint against Ekambaram Mudaliar and his gang at the Walajabad Police Station. Makkal Mandram met Sri Chandrasekhar DSP, once again late in the afternoon and requested him to book Ekambaram Mudaliar under the SC / ST (Atrocities) Act. The DSP has stated that it is not possible to book Ekambaram Mudaliar and others under this act as the crime committed by them would not fall under its ambit. He has also said that the provisions of Section 307 of IPC (attempt to murder) would not be attracted. Makkal Mandram also spoke with Sri. Manoharan, Superintendent of Police, Kancheepuram over phone. However, there is no progress in the case. Till the time of sending out this mail viz., 9.00 PM, no FIR has been filed.
Ekambaram Mudaliar’s goons are still intimidating the shell-shocked Irula people in Thenneri village. The latest report we have received from the village is that Ekambaram Mudaliar’s gang once again came to Karthi’s house around 9. 00 PM and threatened the other family members present there saying ‘tonight we will rid this village of you Irula dogs once and for all as we have powerful links with the bureaucracy’.
The situation in Thenneri village is very risky for the Irula people right now. We are apprehensive due to the indifferent way in which the government is treating the entire matter. The police are treating it as a routine group clash case. The district administration (RDO and his staff) are not taking responsibility at this juncture. We are unable to understand why the culprit Ekambaram Mudaliar cannot be booked under SC/ST Atrocities Act. Tribal houses have been completed demolished. Tribal people have been subjected to physical and emotional violence at his hands. He is a powerful person with lots of influence. He has used his power and influence to not only encroach upon government land but against totally powerless and marginalized people. If this case does not fall under atrocity based on caste/ community, then what would? Would people have to die or women have to be raped to invoke Atrocities Act?
Please lend your support urgently. We request all of you to please call up or write to the Kancheepuram district officials (phone / fax / email ids listed below) and urge them to take the following actions:
· Book the culprits and arrest them immediately, so that immediate protection for the Irula people of Thenneri will is ensured.
· Conduct an enquiry (by the DSP) and book them under SC/ST Atrocities Act and Section 307 (IPC)
· Ensure adequate protection for all the Irula families in Thenneri.
· Give them the title deeds to that land immediately.
Please send us a copy of your fax or mail for reference.
Anticipating your support,
Warm regards
Makkal Mandram
List of Kancheepuram District Officials
Hanish Chhabra
District Collector
Kancheepuram
Office – 044- 2737433
Res. – 044-27238478
Fax – 044 – 27237789 / 27238477
S. Manoharan
Superintendent of Police
Kancheepuram District
Office – 044 – 27237720 / 27238070
Cell No - 9840962359
Sri. R. Thirugnanam
DIG Kancheepuram
Office – 044-2739009
Sri Chandrasekhar
Deputy Superintendent of Police
Kancheepuram
Office – 044 – 27233100
Sri. Kanni Kannan
Inspector (Station Incharge)
Walajabad Police Station
Office – 044 – 27256044
Cell No. 9445465396
Chief Minister’s Special Cell
Secretariat Chennai – 600 009
PBX No. 044 – 25665566
Special Officer (Direct) – 044 – 25671764
Fax – 044 - 25676929
1. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Chennai. cmsec@tn.gov.in, cmcell@tn.gov.in
2. The Chairperson, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, Lok Nayak Bhavan, New Delhi. chairperson@ncst.nic.in
3. The Chairperson, State Human Rights Commission, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. shrc@tn.nic.in
4. The District Collector, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu. collrkpm@nic.in
5. Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong
INDIA: Government promotes the gutter of caste
By vigilindia 02:29 appeals , feature
The 'Made Snana' practiced at the Kukke Subramanya temple, near Mangalore attracts severe criticism and equal amount of support in India. The practice involves devotees allowed to roll over plantain leaves; reportedly after dominant caste Brahmins have eaten from the leaves. It is believed that the ritual will cure skin diseases, in the past leprosy, mostly of the inferior castes, in particular the Dalits. The temple is under the Muzrai Department of the Government of Karnataka. Dr. Vedavyas Srinivas Acharya, a senior minister of the state cabinet, who is also responsible for higher education, planning, statistics and information technology departments in the state government heads the Muzrai department. Dr. Acharya is a medical doctor turned politician.
That a qualified medical doctor heads a government department, which manages religious institutions and the revenue generated from such institutions is also responsible for other important cabinet portfolios, not only allows such inhuman practices in the country but justifies it in the name of religious belief and centuries-old tradition is not just a shame for the country, but illuminates the deep-rooted nature of orthodox prejudices that benefits the dominant castes in the caste system of India. It underscores the fact that the liberation of the country from the cobweb of caste is impossible should the current situations continue. It paints an appalling picture of what modernisation means in India, that Acharya is a senior minister in the state, which hosts the country's IT capital, Bangalore. It reiterates the argument that neo-Dalit political leaders like Ms Mayawati are nothing more than shrewd politicians who use pro-Dalit sentiments to maintain power and intends no good to the community that she allegedly represents and her newfound affinity for Brahminical practices could justify, manual scavenging, a practice vicious and demeaning that rolling over banana leafs.
The government had prohibited the practice of Made Snana in 1979. But it was soon reintroduced on the justification that it is a centuries-old religious ritual. So is untouchability, a much older practice, which today is prohibited not only in the constitution, but also in at least half a dozen statutes. Yet it continues openly in the country.
Irula women Sexually abused by Police - Tirukoilur
By vigilindia 02:43 appeals , feature
The Chairman
National Human Rights Commission
Faridkot House
Copernicus Marg
New Delhi-110001
Respected Sir,
The Vigil India Movement has received information from the Irular (Tribe) Community from Tirukoilur, concerning the case of sexual abuse and torture by the policemen in Tirukoilur, Villupuram District of Tamil Nadu. The incident took place in T.Mandpam a tribal hamlet in Tirukoilur Taluk limit on 22 November 2011. A group of eight policemen from Tirukoilur Police Station went to T.Mandapam village at around 08.00PM in connection with a theft case and called the Mr. Kasi’s relatives Laxmi, Radhika, Vaitheeswari and Karthika for investigation. Once they get into Police van, the police took them to a densely wooded area and these girls were sexually abused, tortured and raped throughout the night by the arrogant police and they were let to go home on 23 November morning without any investigation.
It is reported that Laxmi (20) one of the victim and Prabha Kalvimani a coordinator of Irular Tribal Welfare Society registered a complaint with the Superintendent of Police Mr. Bhaskaran on Saturday 26 November 2011 at Villupuram. Yet the accused were not identified and arrested. The way the investigation is in progress, the complainant feels that the police department is in favour of the accused and trying to cover up the case even though the nature of the crime is crueler, inhuman and violence against women.
Case Narrative:
Laxmi, a 20 year old Irula tribal lady married to Mr. Kasi (22) from the same community. Both are working in Brick Camber near Ulunderpet town and during off days they normally back to their village in T. Mandapam, Tirukoilur Taluk. On 22 November 2011, when they were in T. Mandapam with their family members, at around 03.00PM, three policemen from Tirukoilur Police station came and took Mr. Kasi to the Police station in connection with a theft case.
Soon after the incident, Kasi’s partents, Murugan, Vallikannu and brother kumar rushed to Tirukoilur police station and they were informed that Kasi was taken to Villupuram police station for further investigation and they were also tortured and held up in police custody in Tirukoilur police station without any proper intimation. Kasi’s mother Vallikannu was threatened and forced to give her thump impression in a whitepaper by the police.
Later on the same day night at 08.00PM, a group of eight policemen came to the village and looted nearly 80grams of gold jewelry, four cell phones and cash Rs. 2000/- from Murugan’s house and reportedly harassed the villagers who were opposed this lootings. Then the policemen forced Kasi’s wife Laxmi and three other girls Radhika, Vaitheeswari and Karthika to get into police van for further investigation. When they get into a police van, the police took them to a densely wooded area and sexually abused and raped them throughout the night and warned them not to tell this incident to anyone and let them to go back to their home on 23 November morning.
These girls complained this incident to the villagers and then one of the victims Laxmi and Mr. Prabha Kalvimani, a coordinator of Irular Tribal Welfare Society filed a complaint with the Superintendent of Police at Villupuram on 26 November 2011.
Based on the complaint, Superintendent of Police Mr. Bhaskaran, reported to media that since they could not name the policemen involved in the incident, cases invoking Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 427 (causing damage to currency notes), 363 (kidnapping) and Section 376 (rape) read with Section 3 (1) (12) of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were booked against certain unidentified policemen. Further he informed to the media that he did not find any truth so far on his personal investigation of the case filed by Ms. Laxmi and Prabha. However, he has sent the report to the District Collector as per section 151 of IPC for further investigation. So far there is hardly any information about the victims’ relatives who are in police custody.
Ms. Laxmi a complainant and a co-complainant Mr. Prabha Kalvimani were upset over the statement made by S.P. Bhaskaran without the proper investigation and Interrogation. They demand proper and honest investigation to arrest the accused and release the innocent victims those who are held up in police custody.
Hence the complainant request and appeal to the Human Rights Commission to intervene in the case and take proper action against the accused policemen and give proper compensation to the victims.
In this regard, Vigil India Movement expresses its concern over proper investigation and seeks your urgent intervention to protect the victims of Irula Tribes.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Copy to:
1. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Chennai. cmsec@tn.gov.in, cmcell@tn.gov.in
2. The Chairperson, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, Lok Nayak Bhavan, New Delhi. chairperson@ncst.nic.in
4. The Chairperson, State Human Rights Commission, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. shrc@tn.nic.in
