November 1999
Murugeshan, of Segudenthali village near Somanur, was a
porter and returning to his village by bus from Somanur to Segundhenthali.
There was a seat vacant and he went to sit, the neighour being a gownder (upper
caste) of the village, sarcastically said "chakkiliyan sits next to me,
the time is changing for worst', Murugeshan replied it’s a government bus and I
am traveling with a ticket. The Gownder replied we will teach you a lesson
after reaching the village.
6 pm after reaching home. Upper Caste Gownders mobilize
their caste and reach Murugeshan’s house and beat him and his pregnant wife,
Karupathaal. A complaint was lodged in Karumanthampati police station, at the beginning
the police did not take the complaint. Murugeshan was sent to Avinashi
government hospital and Karupathal was
sent to Thirupur hospital. The police delayed in registering the case, the
dalit movement protested to arrest the culprit. Around 650 people were
protesting in the main junction. The police arrives to the spot and arrests
482, after taking them to different places they settle them in Thirupur
Anuparpalayam police station. Among them 243 were remanded at 3.a.m. As the
protest continued FIR was lodged and preparation was being made to arrest the
culprit. After four days all those culprits arrested were released on bail.
On 17th November 1999,
After the upper caste violence on dalits, all the villagers have
fled the village for almost two months. All the villagers were ‘rehabilitated’
expect Murugeshan. In a conversation Murugeshan says “what happened to me
should not repeat to any chakkiliyars in western district, and I am not a
coward and I can be happy only if I live in Segundanthali village” and he goes
to his village. As a party we demanded protection to Murugeshan stating the
police did not arrest the main culprit and anytime Murugeshan’s life is in
threat.
On November 16th in the evening around 6.30 P. M
Murugeshan was attacked brutally by Gownders and Police or the ambulance or
rented vehicle did not want to reach the place. No vehicles came to take him to
hospital. However one of the party member take Murugeshan to Police station and
record his statement and was sent to Thirupur government hospital. The next day
around 12 P.M he was confirmed dead. The police immediately conducted post
mortem and buried his body. Then the police arrested only 3 of those who physically
manhandled Murugeshan. After 8 months the court found these 3 guilty, during the
trail the Gownders would thrown the court and that was really intimidating the
victims, and as victims could not gather the support Gownders did with their
money. Many of the activists of Dalit viduthalai Katchi was brided many lakhs
and even the victims family, however none yielded to their wishes. In one
instance these Gownders offered me 15 lakhs only to be away from the court
during the trail. At one time the witness were kidnapped however we got them
back on time to the court. The high court confirmed the judgement of the lower
court. Now they have appealed in the Supreme Court. It was a life sentences. The
main culprits were never arrested, they are santhasing, chinnaswamy,
soundararajan all these are crorepathy. They are the natamay of the village.
Soundarajan is from Congress Party and santhasing is a big businessman and his
brother belongs to congress party
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