Two Dalit men killed, three others injured in clash near Arakkonam

Ranipet SP R Sivakumar and Arakkonam DSP K Manohar reached the spot immediately to pacify the crowd. Four special teams have been formed to investigate the incident. The bodies of the deceased were sent for post-mortem and an FIR was registered under the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Six men have already been arrested in connection with the case.

Speaking with indianexpress.com, DSP Manohar said as per initial probe, it does not seem to be a communal clash. “The men were under the influence of alcohol when an argument took place. There was no previous enmity between them. Those arrested have been identified as Surendran, Ajith, Madan, Nandakumar, Karthik and Satya,” he added.

Following the death, villagers, carrying Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) flags, staged a road blockade on the Tiruttani-Tirupati highway demanding strict action against the accused.

VCK deputy general secretary Gowthama Sanna meets family members of the deceased. (Express Photo)

VCK leader and MP Thol Thirumavalvan took to Twitter to condemn the incident. He said his party will organise protests across all district headquarters on April 10.

In a statement, Thirumavalvan said Dalits have been attacked in several places as the elections have concluded. He added that the fear of losing the elections has caused some of the ADMK-BJP-PMK leaders to indulge in violence.

“Two Dalit youths have been killed in a murderous attack by the caste fanatics. Three more young men have been admitted to a hospital in a critical state. We demand the immediate arrest of the caste fanatics and sand mafia gangs who committed this murder, and their imprisonment under the Goondas Act,” the statement read.

VCK’s deputy general secretary and Arakkonam candidate Gowthama Sanna met the families of the deceased.

Meanwhile, PMK has not reacted to the incident yet.