SC/ST panel team visits post-clash Arasanoor Colony

Madurai: Members of the National SC/ST Commission visited the Arasanoor Colony in Thirupuvanam in Sivaganga district where a communal clash left many houses and vehicles damaged on September 8.
Animosity has existed between dalits and non-dalits in the region over Vinayaka Chaturthi festival. Both groups take out separate processions during the festival.This has been a cause of concern and tension for the past 16 years, says Sivaganga CPM district secretary M Kandasamy.
On September 8, a person from Arasanoor colony, Balamurugan, 25, son of Komali got married. On the same night, a mob of about 40 persons armed with deadly weapons entered the place and ransacked it. Thirty houses including that of Komali, a car and about 10 two wheelers were damaged in the violence. A case was registered against 38 persons in connection with the violence. Members of the commission, including S Lister and A Iniyan, interacted with the villages on Thursday.
The investigators spoke to the affected dalits. District officials, including RDO Aravindhan, Sivagaganga tahsildar Naganathan and Adi Dravida Welfare officer Uma, informed the members that a compensation of Rs 1 lakh had been deposited in the accounts of Pandeeswari, 30, Raavi, 50, Solagiri,70, who were injured in the clash. However, the Commission members observed that it was clear that more than three dalits were attacked in the incident and that the officials should conduct a proper inspection and compensate all those who were injured. They were also urged to remove the names of two minor dalit boys whose names were included in the FIR.
The dalits also sought better infrastructure facilities like proper roads and streetligths from the members of the commission who assured of the same. Dalit vigilance committee member B Pandiarajan was also present