Chennai
The ten-member team, headed by C Lakshmanan, Associate Professor at Madras Institute of Developmental Studies (MIDS), included members from various professions such as social activists, NGO members, advocates, SC/ST Vigilance Committee members and journalists.
The team carried out field study at Ponparappi, on April 25 and submitted the report to media in Chennai. While addressing reporters, the team said that the PMK along with Hindu Munnani was responsible for the attack.
Lakshmanan, said, “PMK cadres broke the pots (symbol of VCK candidate, Thol Thirumavalavan) kept near the polling booth with an intention of starting a communal clash in the village. They attacked the houses of Dalits and damaged properties.”
He also said that Dalit women were abused by PMK cadre. “The Dalit women were dragged out of their houses and were verbally and sexually abused by the attackers. Though women begged to leave them the attackers continued abusing the women,” said Lakshmanan.
He further said that PMK spread lies that Dalits attacked a differently abled man of intermediate community, but during the field visit they found that it was a manufactured lie by the party and there was no such incident.
Journalist Kavinmalar said that the complaint of a cameraman of a private Tamil news channel was also not clear. “Though the cameraman, in his complaint, said that a VCK functionary asked his party cadre to attack him, he was not clear whether who attacked him and the weapons which was used in the attack.”
She also said that the fact-finding team carried out investigation with the cameraman, but he could not confirm whether he was attacked by VCK workers. Even the VCK functionary, against whom the FIR was registered, denied the charges and said that he had no role in the incident.
It may be noted that after the violence, VCK leader, Thol Thirumavalavan demanded the Election Commission to conduct repolling at Ponparappi, but his demands were not accepted.
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