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Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Caste violence victims insist on separate law
Madurai: Gaps and delays in police and judicial processes are leading to low conviction rate in SC/ST Act cases, according to survivors and family members of victims of caste-based crimes who attended a consultative meeting in Madurai on Sunday. The meeting, organised by Evidence, a Madurai-based NGO working for dalit rights, put forth suggestions to bring down such crimes in Tamil Nadu . Kausalya, anti-caste activist and survivor of a caste killing, said such crimes need to be addressed before they escalate. "When a couple has an inter-caste love marriage, they are immediately faced with a lot of mental challenges. There have been cases of the bride being kidnapped or restrained. These too need to be addressed as caste crimes. The state govt is adamant about not framing a separate law for honour killings," she said. Evidence executive director A Kathir said there are numerous hurdles in SC/ST Act cases, right from the filing of FIR. "Over 7,000 SC/ST Act cases are pending in court, and Madurai tops the list. Such cases on an average take over five years. Also, there are convictions only in around 3% of these cases. That too, mainly because the crimes committed were heinous," he said. The mother of M Alagendran, 21, of Virudhunagar, who was murdered by a gang from another SC community in June 2024, said her son was killed due to a love affair with a girl, by her relatives. "However, this case will not come under the SC/ST Act as the victim and accused are from different communities under SC. But, it is still an honour killing, which is why we need a separate law," said A Kathir. He said the State Level High Power Vigilance and Monitoring Committee constituted under the chief minister is not functioning effectively, especially at the grassroots level. An award for best service for social change was presented to film director Era Saravanan during the event, for his contributions in highlighting and fighting against caste discrimination.
New Indian Express
08-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Collect Rs 5L fine from each communal clash accused, says ‘Evidence' Kathir
MADURAI: The executive director of Evidence, an NGO, A Kathir on Wednesday urged the state government to collect Rs 5 lakh fine from each of the accused linked to the communal clash at Vadakadu village in Pudukkottai district. Addressing media, Kathir said as per PCR Act 1976, an accused involved in a communal clash has to pay Rs 5 lakh fine. However, it is not followed in any case. Chief Minister M K Stalin should impose fine on those involved in communal clashes and prevent such incidents from happening in future. He added, 'Police need to include sections 3(1)(wi), 3(1)(wii), 3(1(t)) and 3(2)(va) under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act 2015 in the case booked against Caste Hindus. The collector and SP have not met the victim yet, they must visit and arrange counselling for the victims to help them get rid of their fear. CCTV cameras have been installed, Tasmac shops in the area should be closed, and police booths are essential in the village. The State SC/ST Commission needs to visit and take appropriate action. CM should also announce a compensation of Rs 3 lakh to the victims.' He further stated that the reason for the clash was that the Adaikalamkaatha Ayyanar temple is located in an SC area, and the court had ruled that it belonged to SC people. However, caste Hindus allegedly did not accept this order. In the backdrop of this situation, when a few SC youths went to the Muthumariamman temple festival on Monday, the caste Hindus prevented them which ended in a scuffle. In retaliation, allegedly a mob consisting of over 300 youths belonging to caste Hindus entered the SC area with weapons and vandalised six houses and motorcycles. 13 people, including six women, were injured.' A team led by Kathir went to the village for fact-finding on Tuesday. VCK members stage protest Over 50 VCK members staged a protest in front of the Thiruvalluvar statue, near the collectorate, on Wednesday, condemning the Vadakattu village incident. They raised slogans against the government for failing to prevent the atrocities against the SC/ST people in the state. They urged CM to make efforts to punish the accused and bring justice to the victims who were affected by the incident.
