NHRC issues notice to Tamilnadu DGP on the issue of violation of Dalits' Human Rights
New Delhi, 5th November 2008
The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC has taken suo-motu cognizance of a distressing press report raising serious issue of violation of Human Rights of the Dalits in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. The Commission has issued notice to the concerned District Collector and Director General of Police ,Tamil Nadu seeking their comments in the matter with in 4 weeks.
The report is published in 'Hindu' dated 29/10/2008 captioned "Dalits leave village and stay at nearby hillock". It alleges that around 200 Dalits of 70 families of Panthapuli village under Karivalamvanthanallur police station of District Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, have left their village to ensure their safety as they were reportedly under serious threat from caste Hindus. They have been staying in a nearby Kaarisaaththaan hillock along with their children and cattle. The relations ship between the two communities have been strained for the last 10 years on the issue of not allowing Dalits to offer prayers at the Kannanullur Mariamman Temple in the village.
It is also reported that despite the order, passed by the Sub-Court of Sankarankovil, to the village Administrative Officer and the police to make sure that Dalits are allowed inside the temple, the Dalits who went to the temple on September 23rd, were not allowed entry in the temple, as the priest of the temple, after getting the temple locked had left the village with the keys of the temple.
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The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC has taken suo-motu cognizance of a distressing press report raising serious issue of violation of Human Rights of the Dalits in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. The Commission has issued notice to the concerned District Collector and Director General of Police ,Tamil Nadu seeking their comments in the matter with in 4 weeks.
The report is published in 'Hindu' dated 29/10/2008 captioned "Dalits leave village and stay at nearby hillock". It alleges that around 200 Dalits of 70 families of Panthapuli village under Karivalamvanthanallur police station of District Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, have left their village to ensure their safety as they were reportedly under serious threat from caste Hindus. They have been staying in a nearby Kaarisaaththaan hillock along with their children and cattle. The relations ship between the two communities have been strained for the last 10 years on the issue of not allowing Dalits to offer prayers at the Kannanullur Mariamman Temple in the village.
It is also reported that despite the order, passed by the Sub-Court of Sankarankovil, to the village Administrative Officer and the police to make sure that Dalits are allowed inside the temple, the Dalits who went to the temple on September 23rd, were not allowed entry in the temple, as the priest of the temple, after getting the temple locked had left the village with the keys of the temple.
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