MADURAI: A youth sustained injuries after he was allegedly attacked with a sickle following a clash during a Vadamalai Jallikattu event near Melur in Madurai district on Sunday. Members of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) staged a road blockade for over three hours on Monday, demanding the arrest of those responsible.
The incident occurred following a quarrel between caste Hindu youths and Dalit youths during a Vadamalai Jallikattu event organised by Dalit youths at Ettimangalam near Melur on Sunday.
The VCK members said the police had restricted the number of bulls that could participate in the event. As a result, the organisers could not allow a bull belonging to a caste Hindu to participate, which allegedly led to a quarrel between caste Hindu and Dalit youths at the venue. Elders intervened and pacified them.
Later, when Selvam, a Dalit youth from the same village, was standing in the Melavalavu area, caste Hindu persons who came on motorcycles allegedly attacked him with sickles before fleeing the spot. Selvam sustained a severe injury to his hand and was admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, where he is undergoing treatment.
The police arrested two persons, identified as Nithish Kumar and Prakash, in connection with the attack.
Reacting to the incident, VCK president Thirumavalavan, in a post on X, urged the Tamil Nadu government to arrest all those involved and provide treatment and compensation to the victims.
As the protest continued for over three hours, traffic on the Melur-Natham road was completely disrupted. A police team led by Melur Deputy Superintendent of Police Sivakumar held talks with the protesters.
More than 100 police personnel were deployed in Melavalavu and Melur amid tension following the incident.