High court grants bail to 27 dalits in clash over temple entry

CHENNAI: The Madras high court held a special sitting on Saturday and granted anticipatory bail to 27 dalits, who apprehended arrest in connection with a caste clash over temple worship in Tiruvallur district.

Justice K B K Vasuki, after hearing their counsel P Vijendran in the morning, said two of the 27 accused – Pradeep Kumar and Chandrasekar – should appear before the V metropolitan magistrate here everyday for 15 days, while the rest should stay at Villupuram and sign before the court there until further orders. According to Vijendran, Pradeep Kumar had enrolled as an advocate on December 21. When he returned to his native village in Tiruvallur district that day, he was welcomed by a large gathering of relatives, friends and villagers. While being taken on a procession, the rallyists worshipped at an Amman temple in Nambakkam village.

The petition alleged that the members of the gathering were abused and assaulted by villagers who took exception to their entry to the temple.

Despite complaints, neither the Tiruvallur town police nor the superintendent of police took any action against the aggressors, Vijendran said, adding that several people accompanying Kumar had been hospitalised.

Instead, police accepted complaints from the rival group and registered three FIRs naming 27 people including Kumar, he said. Alleging harassment by rival villagers and discrimination by the police authorities, he sought to bar police from arresting the accused.

Noting that several special teams had been constituted to arrest the named persons and police were entering dalit settlements and colonies, Vijendran wanted the court to grant them anticipatory bail.

Source: The Times of India