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,
5th Block, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
New Delhi.
The Director,
National SC/ST Commission
35, Shastri Bhavan, 2nd 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
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