CHENNAI: Seven Dalits were injured after being allegedly attacked by masked men in Tenkasi and Tirunelveli districts, police said on Saturday.
A nine-member masked gang came to Nettur village in Tenkasi district on two-wheelers and attacked the people indiscriminately with sickles. One person was injured in a similar attack in Tirunelveli district.
The assailants fled the spot immediately after the assaults. A total of seven people were injured and admitted to the government hospital.
A case has been registered, and investigation is on, police said.
Expressing shock over the attack on Dalits, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss on Saturday alleged that the Tamil Nadu government has "failed to prevent" such violence.
"These incidents have left the southern districts in a prolonged state of fear", he said adding "such an incident must not be allowed to recur."
He demanded that the district administrations take immediate steps to restore normalcy in the affected villages.