A clash between Dalits and Muslims erupted in a village near Theni in Tamilnadu on a minor issue of a Dalit funeral procession passing through Muslim area. According to the police, when Vanniammal, an aged Dalit woman, died on April 24, her relatives and friends decided to take out the funeral procession through Muslim Street in Bomminaickanpatti village near Periyakulam.
The Dalits were forced to chose that route as there was another funeral procession going on along their regular route. When the procession entered Muslim Street, some residents protested and a minor clash followed, and the police pacified both sides and the Dalits managed to complete the funeral that day. Later, the village witnessed minor skirmishes between the two groups.
On Saturday morning, when Syed went to his coconut farm, a section of Dalits allegedly intercepted him and told him equally on the same terms not to go through their area and amidst heated arguments between the two groups, a clash took place in which they attacked each other with stones and sticks.
Later an unruly mob entered Muslim Street and hurled stones at houses and shops. Two shops, including a photo studio, were destroyed, the police said. More than 30 persons were injured, three vehicles were set on fire and two shops and household items in 50 houses of Muslims were damaged in a group clash between Muslims and Dalits at the village. The injured are being treated in private and Government hospitals in Jayamangalam and Periyakulam.
Later, the mob set on fire a car owned by Mubarak Ali, a motorcycle owned by Murugan and an auto rickshaw owned by Ilangovan. Following this, the police cordoned off the entire village. More than 200 police personnel were deployed. Outsiders were not allowed entry. The local people were scanned before entering the village. DIG of Police (Dindigul Range) K. Joshi Nirmal Kumar and Superintendent of Police M. Baskaran inspected the village.
The Jayamangalam police have registered a case. Fearing a police backlash, several people have fled the village. The local people complained that both groups had been harbouring enmity after a portrait of VCK leader Thirumavalavan was damaged last month.