Cops bar Vengaivayal Dalits from joining VCK's protest

Tension gripped Vengaivayal on Saturday as villagers staged a sit-in and threatened to surrender their ration cards after the police prevented them from joining a protest organised by the VCK in Pudukkottai city condemning the CB-CID probe into the infamous water contamination case.

- Pearson Lenekar S R @Pudukkottai

The charge sheet submitted by the agency in the Pudukkottai special court for trial of SC/ST cases stated three individuals from the same village were responsible for mixing faecal matter in the overhead tank supplying potable water in late December 2022. This was also mentioned in a report presented by the CB-CID to the Madras High Court during a hearing on Friday, sparking a protest wherein Dalit residents of Vengaivayal accused the authorities of framing them as culprits.

The protesters claimed that the accusations against the affected individuals are baseless and unjust.

The protest which started in the village on Saturday morning continued till evening, with the VCK extending its support and calling for participation in the stir on Sunday.

Police blocked seven entry points leading to Vengaivayal and neighbouring Eraiyur. Only local residents were allowed to enter after questioning by the police at the checkpoints. Media personnel were also denied entry.