Dharmapuri arson: Girl appears in High Court

Chennai, June 6: A girl, whose marriage with a

boy led to anti-Dalit

in three villages of Dharmapuri district last year, today appeared before

and said she temporarily wanted to stay with her mother.

When a Habeas Corpus petition filed by her mother came up for hearing, Divya, who came along with her mother Thenmozhi, told a Division Bench, comprising, Justices M Jayachandran and M M Sundresh that she was going to stay with her mother until she took a decision (on her future) as she was disturbed.

The bench posted the matter for July 1. Meanwhile, Elavarasan, husband of Divya, yesterday filed a complaint with Dharmapuri Police stating that his wife was missing.

Last time when the Habeas Corpus petition came up for hearing Divya had said she wanted go with her husband.

On November 7 last year, more than 268 huts, tiled-roof and one or two-room concrete houses, of Dalits in three colonies in Naickenkotta village were torched by a mob, after Divya's father Nagarajan committed suicide upset over her marrying a Dalit boy.

Over 1,500 Dalits left their houses and spent night in nearby government schools out of fear.

More than 90 persons were arrested and cases were registered against 500 unidentified persons in connection with the violence.

The High Court had directed the state government to appoint a special officer to look into the grievances of the Dalits and distribute over Rs 7.32 crore as relief to the victims of the violence.

Meanwhile, a report from Dharmapuri said tension prevailed in Naickenkottai following the 'disappearance' of Divya.

PTI