TRICHY: A 33-year-old pregnant dalit woman and her husband were harassed by four men belonging to other castes near Karambakudi in Pudukottai district a few days ago. The police have booked a case against the unidentified people and charged them under IPC and SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) Act, 1989.
Police said Abirami Vijayakumar of Ilaikadividuthi and her husband Vijayakumar along with their two sons were returning home from a laboratory at Karambakudi on their bike on the night of July 24. When they were crossing Nariyaru bridge, four men who were on two bikes spat on them. As Vijayakumar questioned them, they kicked their bike and Abiramai fell on the road suffering injuries.
According to the first information report (FIR) filed by Karambakudi police, Abirami stated that the four of them were unidentified men. She said the men stopped their bike and asked them as to which village they belonged to. As soon as the couple revealed that they were residents of Ilaikadividuthi, the attackers confirmed that they belonged to scheduled caste. Abirami stated that they abused them using their caste name and also threatened them with dire consequences.
The gang also told them that their village was Pudhupatti. They left the spot but waited near Periyaru bridge where they verbally abused them again. The couple and the children went home. Since she developed severe pain on her body, she got admitted to government hospital at Karambakudi and shifted to Ranee’s government hospital in Pudukottai on July 25.
On being intimated by the hospital, sub-inspector of police R Prabakaran visited the victim, took her complaint and registered a case on July 27. Deputy superintendent of police (DSP), Alangudi division, A Vadivel who is the investigation officer, said that since the accused were yet to be identified, their caste could not be ascertained. “The investigation is on,” he said.
A Kathir, executive director of the NGO Evidence, who carried out an inquiry on the matter, demanded arrest of all the accused forthwith. Pudukottai district collector should provide a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to Abirami. He also insisted on providing her the best treatment.
This story first appeared on timesofindia.indiatimes.com