In yet another shocking incident that showcased the haunting hands of caste in the Tirunelveli, two young men, who belong to the backward caste, were harassed and urinated on by a gang of men from a dominant caste. The gang had also robbed money from the relative of the victims and unleashed a caste violence against them. The local police have arrested six people in connection to the violence and the incident has sparked strong condemnations from leaders across the state. 

According to the police, two men, aged around 21 and 19, who belong to the backward caste, went to take bath on October 30 at around 7.30 pm at a riverbed near Manimoortheeswaram. While they were taking bath, a gang of men, under alcoholic influence, had intercepted them, intimidated them with knives and other weapons.  

The gang initially threatened the young men asking money had later tortured them based on their caste. When the young men told the gang that they did not possess money, the gang attacked them and called a relative of the victims and asked to transfer Rs 5,000 online. After robbing the money, the gang asked the young men about their caste and background. 

After knowing that both the young men belonged to backward caste, the gang, from a dominant caste, started beating the young men and later made them strip their clothes. The gang went on to urinate on them and they tortured them for over four hours, till 1 am. Both the young men managed to escape from the spot and they shared about what happened to them to their family members. 

Shocked to learn that they faced tortures and caste-based violence, two young men were taken to the Tirunelveli government hospital for further treatments. While receiving treatments, the victims spoke to the media during which they divulged that the gang of men from a dominant caste had also taken away their phones and robbed their jewellery. 

Based on the complaint from the victims, Thachanallur police have registered a case and on Tuesday - October 31, the police had arrested six people - Nallamuthu (21), Ponmani (25), Ramar (22), Siva (22), Aayiram (19), and Lakshamanan (20). All six people belong to nearby towns and they were booked under appropriate sections of the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. 

The incident has triggered sharp condemnations from the political leaders. Tamil Nadu Congress leader and Sriperumbudur MLA Selvaperunthagai issued a statement condemning the incident and urged the state government to take necessary action against the perpetrators. PMK founder S Ramadoss on Thursday - November 2 condemned the attack and asked the government to take strict action against the offenders. 

It is pertinent to note that earlier this August, Nanguneri in Tiruneveli witnessed a gruesome caste violence where a 17-year-old boy and his 14-year-old sister, both belong to backward caste, were brutally attacked by a group of students of dominant caste with sickles. Reminiscing this incident, Ramadoss further said that such caste atrocities cannot be accepted and urged to initiate a strict legal action against the perpetrators.