Tight vigil at village where Dalit leader was found dead

Erode (TN), Mar 22: Police are maintaining a tight vigil in Dasampudur village where body of a 45-year-old Dalit leader was found floating in a well triggering protests in the area.

Police pickets have been posted at the village to ensure no untoward incidents occurs in the area, police said. The family members and activists from Dalit outfits have been staging protests alleging "foul play" in the death of 45-year-old Chinnasamy and demanded a thorough probe in the incident.

A day after the body of Chinnasamy, leader of 'Dalit Viduthalai Katchi', was found floating in the well, his family observed a fast at Dasampudur village, 25 km from here, demanding registration of a murder case. Chinnasamy's body had been brought to the Government Hospital at Coimbatore for post-mortem.

Meanwhile, the Revenue Department last night pasted an order at the door of Chinnasamy's house asking the family to collect the body from the hospital within 24 hours, failing which they would dispose it "as per rules." Relatives had refused to accept the body demanding proper investigation into the death and arrest of persons responsible for it.

According to police, some people had picked up a quarrel with a group of Dalits who were allegedly consuming liquor near a well in the village, where a local temple festival was held on Saturday.

An upper caste person had reportedly "abused" a 19-year-old Dalit boy by his caste name following which Chinnasamy intervened and objected.

He was also reported to have stated that his community people would hereafter not visit Dasampudur and render their regular help to upper caste community members, police said.

PTI