Prohibitory orders in violence-hit TN village

Madurai, Oct 8: The situation in violence-hit Uthapuram Village here still remains tense even as district administration clamped prohibitory orders under Sec 144 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) restricting public from performing 'Kumbabishekam' (consecration) at 'Sri Muthalamman Temple' in the village scheduled for on Wedensday, Oct 9.

Official sources said the prohibitory orders had been in place for over a month to prevent further trouble in the village.

More than a 100 policemen, including armed police, were deployed in the village for security. The administration warned of stern action against violators.

Meanwhile, the upper caste Hindus expressed resentment at clamping prohibitory orders and threatened to undertake indefinite fast if the order was not withdrawn.

Violence broke between upper caste Hindus and Dalits in Uthapuram Village over performing 'Kumbabishekam' of the temple on October one last.

The violence was a sequel to the enmity between both the communities on the infamous 'wall' that separated a Dalit colony from Caste Hindus for nearly two decades.

The 600-metre-long wall that blocked the common pathway and denied Dalits access to areas of common use was brought down by Tamil Nadu Government on May six last after intervention of various political parties.

UNI