Sat Jan 25 08:42:47 UTC 2025: **Villagers Protest Restrictions After Police Block Demonstration in Tamil Nadu Caste Discrimination Case**
PUDUKKOTTAI, Tamil Nadu – Residents of Vengaivayal village in Pudukkottai district staged a sit-in protest on Saturday, January 25, 2025, after police prevented them from participating in a larger demonstration organized by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) party. The protest targeted a recent Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CBCID) report on the 2022 incident where human excrement was found in the village’s overhead drinking water tank. The report alleged that members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community themselves were responsible.
The villagers, all members of the SC community, were confined to the village under heavy security. Over 150 police personnel were deployed, and access for media and outsiders was strictly prohibited. One resident, K.R. Murugan, stated that they were being denied their right to protest and accused the CB-CID of framing them. Despite the tight security, two VCK functionaries were arrested after entering the village. Further arrests were made near the district collectorate following a separate protest by VCK members who submitted a petition demanding a fair investigation. The VCK is calling for the transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The incident highlights ongoing tensions and concerns over the handling of the case.
First Piper 