Campaigns

May 2004

Dalit Human Rights Monitor

National Co-ordination Office:

No.6, Vallabhai Road, Chokkikulam,

Madurai - 625 002.

Ph: 0452-2531874 & 2539520

Fax: 0452- 2531874

Mobile : 98421 68510

E.mail: [email protected]

25/5/2004

Dear Friends,

Sub : Brutal attack on Dalits settlement in the Kalapatti village of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India, by the Dominant caste people on 16/5/2004.

The People’s Watch – Tamil Nadu and the Dalits Human Rights Monitoring (DHRM) is deeply concerned over the brutal and inhuman attack on the Dalits settlement in the Kalapatti village of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India by the Dominant caste people of the same village. Nearly 100 Dalits houses were attacked by 200 Dominant caste using swords and other sharp and deadly weapons. Many Dalit houses were burnt and properties like televisions, grinding machines, cycles, were damaged or set on fire. Not only this they also killed the cattle of the Dalits and set fire to the cattle. They assaulted women by sexually abusing them trying to pull their sarees. Nearly 100 Dalit houses were completely raised to the ground due to this fire. Most of the people sustained serious injuries all over their body, on their head, neck, back, cheek etc due to the cuts caused by the sharp weapons. The dominant caste people also pushed the Dalits to the ground and stamped them with their legs abusing them using caste names. The dominant caste mob had taken away money and jewels from the Dalit houses during the violence. This brutal attack was carried out for nearly two hours, from 6.30 – 8.30 p.m. The Dominant caste mob was that violent that the 8-month year baby boy of Gopal and Nithya who was sleeping in a cradle was hit against the wall in a most inhuman manner. Also a 75 year old Muthan s/o Mottaiyappan who was just then returning from work to the village was hit by sharp weapons immediately when he got down from the bus. This innocent old man did not know for what reason he was attacked so brutally. Another old woman named Valliammal (45 years) w/o Kittan was hit on her head and started bleeding badly when she went to the rescue of her son. Most of the Dalits tried to escape to save their lives. But they were further stopped on their way out and attacked with weapons once again. In this occurrence, 14 Dalits were severely attacked with the sharp and deadly weapons and they sustained terrible injuries and have been admitted to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital. Today there is a threat for their lives and security.

In the light of the above occurrence, we would like your solidarity in condemning this brutal attack which is the result of the horrendous caste system prevailing in India. Find enclosed the findings arrived by our Fact- Finding team who visited the place of occurrence and met the victims.

We would request you to demand immediate action by the respective authorities on this violence against the Dalits in India.

Kindly send in your appeals to the following people,

Justice J. Anand,

National Human Rights Commission,

Sardar Patel Bhaven, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi 110 001.

E.Mail: [email protected]

The Chairperson,

The National Commission for Women,

4, Deendayal Upadhyay Marg,

New Delhi 110 002.

E.Mail: [email protected]

The Chairman,

National SC/ST Commission,

5^th Block, Lok Nayak Bhavan,

New Delhi.

The Director,

National SC/ST Commission

35, Shastri Bhavan, 2^nd Floor

Haddows Road,

Chennai 600 006

Justice Thangaraj,

The State Human Rights Commission

35, Thiru Vi.Ka.Salai,

Royapettai,

Chennai 600 034.

The Chief Minister

State Secretariat

St.George Fort

Chennai 600 009.

Tamil Nadu

The Chief Secretary

Tmt. Lakshmi Pranesh IAS

Public Department

Secretariat,

Chennai-600 009

Tamil Nadu.

Secretary to Chief Minister

Secretary-1 to the chief Minister

Phone:25672504(O), 26216699(R)

Fax: 25671441, 25673323,24892840

E-Mail: [email protected]

In Solidarity,

Dr. P. Sekar,

DHRM Programme Co-ordinator

People’s Watch – Tamil Nadu