In what has become an appalling incident that spotlighted the strong prevalence of casteism and discrimination that spiraled around the anti-social system in Tamil Nadu, seven persons who belong to the upper caste had reportedly abused and discriminated a Dalit shepherd after the latter's goat from his cattle ran into the herd of cattle belong to the upper caste man. 

The incident had happened in Kayathar, Thoothukudi district on October 8. However, it came to light after Thol. Thirumavalavan, the Chief of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, had shared the video through Twitter on Monday, and soon after it was shared, it had sparked controversy and drawn massive flak across the state. In a ten-second video, it can be seen that Dalit was forced to fall at the feet of the upper caste man. 

Sharing the video, Thirumavalavan, who is also a Lok Sabha MP, said such atrocities happen not only in North India but also in Tamil Nadu. After the video was widely shared across social media, the local police department had detained the upper caste men and booked them under the appropriate sections. According to reports, the caste victim was identified as 60-year-old Paulraj and he is a native of a village in Kayathur, Thoothukudi. 

#அநாகரிகம்: வட இந்திய மாநிலங்களில் மட்டுமல்ல; தமிழ்நாட்டிலும் தொடரும் அநாகரிகம். கயத்தாறு அருகே ஓலைக்குளம் கிராமம் ஆதிக்குடியினத்தைச் சார்ந்தவரின் ஆடுகள் தங்களின் கொல்லைப் பகுதியில் எப்படி நுழையலாமென இந்தக் கேவலத்தை அரங்கேற்றியுள்ளனராம். pic.twitter.com/6BBvT2PkfF

— Thol. Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) October 12, 2020

Paulraj, who belongs to the backward caste, has around 100 goats and sheep and he herds the cattle for his living. On the day of the incident, it was reported that one of the goats from his herd had run into the herd of Sangili Thevar, who belongs to the upper caste, Thevar community. After knowing that the goat of a Dalit man had entered his herd, Sangili Thevar had caste slurred Paulraj and reportedly insulted him through using his caste names.

While Thevar had asked Paulraj to apologize, the latter had refused following which Thevar had gone to his village and brought some of his caste colleagues Periyamari, Maharajan, Veeraiya, Mahendran, and Udayammal. After they came to the spot, they forced Paulraj to apologize and insulted him based on his caste. They went on to make Paulraj to fall at Sangili Thevar's feet and apologize. One of the members in the gang had taken a video of the incident. 

In the video, Paulraj can be seen falling at Thevar's feet and after it triggered the controversy, the local police department had arrested all the seven upper caste men and booked under the appropriate sections of the IPC. 

According to reports, an FIR has been registered against them under sections 147 - punishment for rioting, 294b - sings, recites, or utters any obscene song, ballad, or words, 323 - voluntarily causing hurt, 506 (ii) - criminal intimidation of the IPC and under section 3(1)(r) - intentionally insults or intimidates with intent to humiliate a member of a Scheduled Tribe or a Scheduled Caste. 

The police superintendent of Thoothukudi had said that all the seven upper caste men were arrested on Tuesday morning and the deputy superintendent of police, Kovilpatti has been directed to lead the investigation towards the matter and he has been ordered to disclose the report of the probe in seven days.