Four men were killed when the police fired on an unruly mob that indulged in arson and looting in Paramakudi following the arrest of dalit leader John Pandian at Vallanadu, in Thoothukudi district, in the early hours of Sunday. Two other dalit youths suffered bullet injuries during police firing on violent protesters in Madurai district.
After a lull of over a decade, the spectre of caste violence has reared its ugly head once again in the southern districts, that too on the occasion of the late dalit leader Immanuel Sekaran’s death anniversary. Scores of dalit protesters blocked roads and attacked the police after their leader John Pandian was detained while on way to pay homage at Immanuel Sekaran’s memorial at Paramakudi, in Ramanathapuram district. Violence soon spread to Madurai and Sivagangai districts. DIG Sandeep Mittal and Adyar DC (formerly Ramanathapuram SP) K.A. Senthilvelan, who were at the riot-spot, received injuries in stone-pelting. Three police vehicles, including an anti-riot Vajra van, an ambulance and a fire tender were set ablaze by the protesters. The police then opened fire. While three men in the mob died on the spot, one succumbed to bullet injuries in hospital.
The riot spread to neighbouring Madurai where police opened fire to chase away a group which attempted to harass a woman constable.