G.SRINIVASAN
Mention the names of police officers, who have foisted cases on them, to the fact finding committee
Human rights organisations have appealed to the State government to order a judicial inquiry into the alleged harassment by police of narikuravas living in various villages around Thanjavur. A sitting Judge should conduct the probe, the organisations demanded.
A.Marx, president, People’s Union for Human Rights (PUHR), and G.Sukumaran, secretary, Federation for People’s Rights, Puducherry, told presspersons here on Tuesday that nearly 2,000 narikuravas lived at Muthuveerkavundanpatti, Manojipatti, Guruvadipatti, Reddypalayam road, Annai Sivakami Nagar, Mariamman Koil, Ammanpettai and Avarampatti. They were put to a lot of harassment by the police and they were arrested and false cases were foisted on them, they alleged.
To protest this, 80 women of these villages launched an indefinite fast recently at Manojipatti. On request from Vivekanandan, advocate and a member of VCK, a fact finding committee comprising human rights activists visited these villages and collected first hand information. Selvarani, wife of Veeraiyan of Muthuveerakavundanpatti, and Murugayi, wife of Rajani, narrated their tales of sorrow.
They explained about alleged police harassment and the number of cases foisted on their husbands and fathers. Unable to tolerate the alleged harassment by police, Selvarani allegedly used kerosene to immolate herself.
She suffered 50 per cent burns but survived after treatment, Mr.Marx and Mr.Sukumaran alleged. Collector K.Baskaran told the fact finding committee that an inquiry by Revenue Divisional Officer has been ordered into the allegations.
But Mr. Marx and Mr. Sukumaran said that the RDO inquiry was not enough. A judicial probe should be ordered. The narikuravas mentioned the names of certain police officers who they alleged foisted cases on them. Action should be taken against them, they demanded. Narikuravas have been facing the problem of getting caste certificate and many of the government schemes did not reach them. District administration should look into this matter and action should be taken on the allegations as the tribal community is facing the danger of being linked to crimes and made a notified community, they alleged.
Besides Mr.Marx and Mr.Sukumaran, the fact finding committee comprised Aranga.Gunasekaran of Thamizhaga Manitha Urimai Kazhagam, Peravurani, Prof. Prabha Kalvimani, Pazhangudi Irular Padukappu Sangam, M.Sivagurunathan, Makkal Kazhagam for Human rights, Tiruvarur and Prof.C.Subramanian of Thanjavur.
The Hindu / 20.06.2012
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