Normalcy returns to Deevattipatti; 28 held in connection with violence
Violence arose between two caste groups over allegations that Scheduled Caste members were denied entry during the Mariamman temple festival by Most Backward Class members
Normalcy has returned to Deevattipatti, where clashes broke out between two caste groups during a local Mariamman temple festival. As of Saturday, district police have arrested 28 individuals from both factions in connection with the violence.
The festival, held in Deevattipatti since the third week of April, became marred by allegations from Scheduled Caste (SC) members who claimed that individuals belonging to the Most Backward Class (MBC) were barring them from entering the temple. Consequently, police and revenue o¦cials halted the festival and sealed the temple premises on Wednesday evening. On Thursday, a peace meeting was held with representatives from both caste groups, during which MBC representatives requested one day’s time to convey their decision on resuming the festvial. Following the meeting, supporters from both sides gathered at Deevattipatti bus stand and began pelting stones at each other. Additionally, a mob vandalised over 20 local shops and set re to two others. Additional police forces were deployed, and the situation was swiftly brought under control. Utilizing CCTV footage and social media videos, police have apprehended 28 people from both sides for vandalising public property and have remanded them.
To prevent further unrest, hundreds of police personnel have been stationed in the area for the past three days. Police sources have reported a return to normalcy in the area, with several shops reopening on Saturday. It is anticipated that shops will resume operations from Monday, and a nine-member police team has been deployed in every street of Deevattipatti.
Meanwhile, addressing reporters in Salem, AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami delivered a message on the importance of brotherhood and maintaining peace, and urged the District Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP) to engage in dialogue and restore normalcy to the area.
The BJP will not win a single seat in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, or Puducherry, said CPI state secretary R. Mutharasan on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters at Tiruchengode, Mr. Mutharasan remarked that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaigns hit a new low after the rst two phases of the general elections.
“No Prime Minister in the past has campaigned like this. With the rst two phases of the elections pointing to a clear setback for the BJP, the Prime Minister has resorted to polarising rhetoric. In the past ten years of the BJP government, over 700 farmers have died in protests. Not only political parties but even the public have lodged complaints against his speeches. But instead of sending notices to the Prime Minister, the Election Commission is sending notices to the party,” Mr. Mutharasan added.
Accusing the Prime Minister of not visiting Manipur
With the rst two phases of the elections pointing to a clear setback for the BJP, the Prime Minister has resorted to polarising rhetoric
CPI state secretary
after one year of violence, Mr. Mutharasan said that the BJP has refrained from contesting in almost all the north-east states.
“Earlier, the BJP allegedly indulged in horse trading and toppled governments. But now, as a new tactic, the BJP is allegedly buying candidates and forcing them to withdraw from the elections. The Election Commission has been in deep sleep and its credibility has become a question mark. The commission could not even tell the voting percentage properly,” Mr. Mutharasan added.
People will teach the BJP and its allies a lesson in these elections, Mr. Mutharasan added.