In a disturbing incident highlighting communal tensions, a long-standing disharmony between residents of two neighbouring villages in Dharmapuri district erupted into violence on Friday night. The conflict, rooted in the Thalanatham panchayat under Kadathur union, saw a gang from the Vanniyar community of Guruparalli village launch a targeted attack on a house belonging to the Arundhathiyar community in Nadur village.
Escalation from Verbal Spat to Physical Assault
According to detailed accounts from the Kadathur police, the chain of events began earlier on Friday. Two youths from Nadur village, identified as Jaisimman (25) and Santosh (23), ventured to Guruparalli village for a meal on their two-wheeler. Their vehicle unfortunately broke down in the Ayyampatti area, a locality predominantly inhabited by members of the Vanniyar community.
A police officer narrated the initial confrontation: "A few Vanniyar youths passing by the area demanded that Jaisimman and Santosh leave the premises immediately. This directive quickly spiraled into a heated verbal exchange between the youths of the two communities." The argument soon turned physical, with more Vanniyar youths converging on the scene. They allegedly assaulted Jaisimman and Santosh, hurling casteist slurs at the duo during the attack.
Nighttime Attack and Terrifying Ordeal
After managing to retrieve their two-wheeler, the injured youths returned to their Nadur village home around 10 pm. They reportedly went to sleep without informing their family members about the earlier altercation. However, the situation took a far more sinister turn later that night.
The police officer described the subsequent attack: "More than ten individuals from the Vanniyar community gathered outside Jaisimman's house. They shouted obscenities and launched a violent assault on the property using sticks and iron rods, shattering windows and doors in the process." In a particularly alarming act, the assailants locked the main door from the outside, trapping the family inside. They issued death threats, warning the inmates against attempting to exit the house.
By the time neighbours arrived at the scene, the gang had fled, allegedly taking Jaisimman's two-wheeler with them. Alerted to the crisis, Kadathur police personnel rushed to the location. They were forced to break open the door to rescue the terrified family members who had been locked inside their own home.
Police Action and Legal Proceedings
In response to the serious incident, police took swift action on Saturday. They arrested five residents from the Ayyampatti area in connection with the attack. The arrested individuals have been identified as Santosh (25), Sakthi (24), Chandaru (25), Dhileepan (24), and Surya (25).
Significantly, the accused have been booked under the stringent Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Following their arrest, they were remanded to judicial custody and lodged at the Salem Central Jail. This legal action underscores the gravity of the allegations involving caste-based violence and intimidation.
Counter-Allegations and Broader Context
In a parallel development, the Kadathur police have also registered a separate case against Jaisimman, Santosh (the assault victims), and a few others. This case pertains to allegations of teasing women and harassing Vanniyar youths, suggesting a complex backdrop of mutual grievances that may have fueled the conflict.
The incident has cast a spotlight on the simmering communal tensions in the region. Nadur village is home to over fifty families belonging to the Arundhathiyar community, a Scheduled Caste group. The attack and the subsequent legal actions highlight the ongoing challenges related to caste-based discrimination and violence in certain rural pockets, demanding attention from both law enforcement and community leaders to prevent further escalation.
