The Tiruppur district police have filed a case against a 50-year-old man under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for allegedly assaulting a 36-year-old Dalit man over a tea-drinking incident.
The victim, K. Karuppusamy, employed by the Thurampadi village panchayat, was attacked by M. Senniyappan, a member of a dominant community. According to police sources, the altercation began on December 17 when Karuppusamy was drinking tea while seated at a bakery in Moolanur.
“Senniyappan arrived at the bakery, sat down, and ordered tea. After finishing, he allegedly stared at Karuppusamy and left,” a police source said.
The following day, Senniyappan reportedly confronted Karuppusamy near a petrol bunk in Nathapalayam. “He waylaid Karuppusamy, beat him up, and kicked him. The attack seems to have been triggered by the belief that Karuppusamy should have stood up or moved away when Senniyappan sat down at the bakery,” the source added.
Karuppusamy, who sustained injuries, is currently receiving treatment at Dharapuram Government Hospital.
A case has been registered against Senniyappan under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the SC/ST (POA) Act. Dharapuram Deputy Superintendent of Police, S. Suresh Kumar, confirmed that a search is underway for the accused. “He will be arrested soon,” Kumar said.
This story was originally published in theobserverpost.com.