By Shalini Lobo
A Dalit man was brutally thrashed by a mob after he allegedly stopped to defecate in an open field in Tamil Nadu
On Wednesday, while on his way to work, he stopped at an open field to defecate
A woman saw him and called others while shouting that he was misbehaving with her
24-year-old Dalit man was brutally thrashed by a mob after he allegedly stopped to defecate in an open field in Villupuram town in South of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The victim, identified as Sakthivel, worked in a petrol pump near Villupuram.
On Wednesday, while on his way to work, he stopped at an open field to defecate when a woman noticed him and began yelling. The woman then called others while shouting that he was misbehaving with her.
Seeing the mob approach, Sakthivel tried to flee but was caught, following which his hands and legs were tied up and he was brutally assaulted..
Police was informed, but, Periyathachur Sub-inspector Vinoth, who reached the spot, did not take Sakthivel to a hospital and told him to appear for inquiry the next day instead.
Sakthivel’s sister, Theivanai, then reached the spot after some time and took him back home. She said that Sakthivel fell unconscious and died in a few hours.
Theivanai lodged a complaint with Periyathachur Police Station following which seven people were arrested in connection with the incident.
A case has been registered under section 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapons), 294 (B) (Obscene action and songs) and 302 (punishment for murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 3 (2) (v) of SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
This story first appeared on indiatoday.in