Murdered ex-Dalit civic chief’s kin seek action on Collector, SP

They demanded immediate suspension of Sivaganga SP and Collector for their negligence. The murder happened on Monday evening when Murugan (45) of Vembathur village was returning to Madurai after appearing at the Sivaganga District Court in connection with a murder case. 

When Sivaganga police personnel dropped him at the Madurai district border at Keelavadakoor village, a gang intercepted and murdered him. His body was taken to Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital for post mortem. But his kin refused to accept the body after the procedure. 

On Tuesday, they staged a road roko in front of the GRH and raised slogans accusing the police of protecting certain caste Hindus and unleashing violence against Dalits. Various Dalit outfits members, parties and organisations joined the relatives in the road roko. They demanded the arrest of all the accused and the suspension of Sivaganga SP and Collector. 

Kathir, Executive Director of Evidence, a Madurai-based NGO, said that there was serious threat to the life of Murugan and he had approached the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court for providing the ex-panchayat chief with a gun for his protection. The High Court too granted permission, but the Sivaganga Collector and SP refused to permit him to maintain a gun. “Even a week ago, Murugan had written a letter stating that the SP and Collector would be held responsible if he was murdered. If they had permitted him to maintain a gun, he would have been saved,” he added. 

A policeman Kannan, Head Constable of Poovanthi police station and 10 caste Hindus were booked in the murder case.

Caste enmity prevailing in the village for the past seven years has been cited as the reason for the murder of Murugan on Monday. The uneasy equations have forced the Dalit families to shift out of the village. Sources said that Murugan was the president of Vembathur panchayat from 2006 to 2011. In 2010, his younger brother Muthukrishnan was murdered by a six-member gang. In 2011, a caste Hindu named Karuppasamy was murdered. Murugan and 11 other Dalits were included as accused in the case. The enmity stroked by the two murders have claimed his life.