Melapattam, Thirukolunthupuram, Manakaadu villages are in Thirunelveli District. These villages are atrocity prone villages and very often atrocity against dalits are orchestrated by Devar communities. Bus enroot from Melapattam to Thirunelveli Junction go via Thirukolunthupuram and Manakaadu villages. Hence Dalit Students travelling from Melapattam to Thirunelveli Junction get enough seats during the travel. Dominant caste hindu students from Thirukolunthupuram and Manakaad, are happened to travel by standing. Intolerant Devar community students, are acrimonious about this. On 19/10/2009, as usual Melapattam Dalit students got seats to sit. As the bus reached Thirukolunthupuram Bus Stand, Devar students started pushing and disturbing the dalit studens who were sitting. Hence S. Kumar, resident of Melapattam, belongs to dalit community, asked not to disturb and push. Vellaiyan, resident of Manakaadu, belongs to dominant caste hindu Devar community, verbally abused Kumar, referring derogatory regarding caste name, saying “Pallan buggers are sitting in the seats, and we happened to travel by standing”. Then he pulled Kumar by his shirt and beaten him. Seeing this assault, Dalit students came to the rescue of Kumar. Manakaadu and Thirukolunthupuram Devar community students, joined together and started attacking Dalit students. Hence a clash broke out between Dalit and Devar students. Seeing this clash, the driver rode the bus directly to the Thirunelveli Taluk Police Station. Parents of both the community students and village elders were called to the police station and a peace meeting was convened. Considering the education of the students, compromised was arrived and no case was filed against the erred students.

S. Munusamy (30), is resident of Sempulichaampalayam village, Bhavani Taluk, Erode district, belongs to Dalit Arunthathiyar community. He is a Jeep Driver. Two months before the date of incident, someone stolen Rs. 11000 kept inside their house. Hence forth Munusamy and his family was vigilant during the night to avoid further occurrence. Munusamy used to keep chillepowder to attack the thief, in case of such attempt. On 17/10/2009, midnight while Munusamy family was asleep in their home, one T. Sakthivel, belongs to dominant caste hindu Padaiathci Kounder community, entered their house to steal. On noticing this when Munusamy was planning to throw chillipowder on Sakthivel’s face, Sakthivel ranaway as one of the Munusamy’s children coughed.

On 18/10/2009, when Sakthivel came along the Muniappan Kovil street, Munusamy intercepted and asked why you came into our house during the midnight. Sakthivel not only denied of doing that crime, he started verbally abusing Munusamy referring derogatory regarding caste name. This leads to a brawl between them and Sakthivel brutally assaulted him. Munusamy’s wife Nanthieswari came and separated them. Though almost all villagers witnessed this no one came to the rescue of Munusamy from the assault of Sakthivel. In the mean time Dhanabackiyam, sister of Munusamy came to his rescue. Sakthivel even verbally abused Dhanabackiyam referring derogatory regarding caste, saying “Kura daughter of Kurava prostitute. Then he pushed her down and brutally assaulted her and torn her jacket. After this brutal assault, Munusamy and Dhanabackiyam were taken to the Andiyur GH. They received treatment for three days. Andiyur Police SI got an affidavit about the atrocity and assured that the DSP will investigate the case.

During the DSP Investigation, no one came forward to give the witness statement, fearing the dominant caste hindus of the neighborhood. As the father of Sakthivel told that Sakthivel is mentally disturbed and he is loafer roaming the streets, the DSP have not taken any action against the perpetrator.

K. Srinivasan, (18), resident of Narayanapuram Street, Keelnelithanallur, Sankarankovil Taluk, Trinelveli District, belongs to Dalit Pallan community. He is working as a daily wage farm labourer. On 18/10/09, 8pm while Srinivasan was walking through the dominant caste hindu Konaar steet, he was stopped by S. Kudaaram, V. Muthaiah, V. Vasanth and S. Pannaiyar – all   belongs to dominant caste hindu Konaar community. Kudaaram told that, “you pallan should not walk through our street”. In reply, Srivasan questioned, “Who are you people to ask me not to walk through the street? Kudaaram who could not tolerate the assertion of  a Dalit, verbally abused him saying, “ son of palla prostitute, who dare you question us and who will question us if we assault you?. Then Kudaaram hit Srinivasan in his head. Srinivasan objected to his attack and told that he will retaliate if you attack again. Infuriated and intolerant Muthaiah and Vasanth kicked him to the ground. Pannaiyar kicked him and said we have to kill the pallans to break their bones. Kudaaram hit Srinivasan with a stone, Srinivasan sustained injury over his eyelids, and blood gushed out. As Srinivasan shouted for help, all the perpetrators ran away from the place of incident.

Dalits belongs to his street, who came along the way, took him to the  Panavadalichatiram Police Station. Police filed a complaint against the perpetrators. Then Srinivasan was taken to the Thirunelveli Government Hospital and was provided treatment for a week. Police arrested only one of the perpetrators (Kudaaram). Politicians and village elders visited him and exerted pressure on him to withdraw the complaint and to compromise with him. 

Veeramuthu (48), resident of Harijan colony, Amaravathi Pudur, Kodumudi, Erode district, belongs to Dalit Arunthathiyar community. In his village there are only 15 Dalit families and around 300 dominant caste hindu Kounder families. Kounders being in dominant position, all the dalits have to obey their orders and have to show respect at the very sight of Kounders. In the village, kounders practices caste based discrimination, untouchability and commission atrocities against dalits. Veeramuthu, being an educated person and who wants to stand firm against discriminatory and untouchability practice, usally not give respect to kounders just because of their caste superiority.

On 18/10/09, while he was returning home on his bi-cycle, as usual he had not given respect to some the koundes standing along the road side. On noticing this, Venkatachelam Kounder, a retired teacher, shouted at him saying, “you son of Sakkili prostitute, stop your vehicle? Veeramuthu stopped the vehicle and looked at Venkatachalam, Venkatachalam again verbally abused him referring derogatory regarding caste. saying “eventhough you are a government servant, you are still a sakkili, can’t you give respect to me as I am a Kounder, you will never become a kounder eventhough you are govt bus conductor. In reply to them, Veeramuthu told that since you people are high due to alchohol, let us speak about this later. After saying so, he went to his house.

Around 08.30 pm of the same day, Teacher Venkatachalam, V. Gupenthran Ganapathy, Chinnathambi, Shankar and Sekar. Received treatment for Kodumudi GH - Erode GH. Kodumudi police received the statement. On behalf of Mayor