Public stages sit-in protest near Uthiyur bus stand in Tirupur district, alleging caste-based slurs and inaction on water scarcity issues by ward members. Tension prevails as police deployed.
Tirupur: Tension prevailed in Uthiyur, Tirupur district, as residents of Sengodampalayam panchayat staged a sit-in protest at the local bus stand. The protest erupted after ward members allegedly used caste slurs against Dalit residents who approached them regarding water scarcity and road infrastructure issues.
The Sengodampalayam panchayat, comprising over 15 hamlets, is led by a woman president named Saraswathi, with Balaramanathan of BJP as the vice-president. The panchayat council includes eight members from Congress, DMK, and independents. Recently, accusations surfaced that the vice-president and four other members were working against the panchayat president.
With the panchayat having funds exceeding Rs. 90 lakhs, plans were proposed to address water scarcity by drilling borewells and improving road infrastructure. However, these plans required signatures from ward members on resolutions, which five members, including the vice-president, refused to provide.
Yesterday, residents approached the panchayat president to complain about water scarcity. The president informed them that due to the lack of signatures from these five members, even contract workers in the panchayat hadn't received their salaries for the past two months.
Subsequently, when Dalit residents visited ward member Deepa's house to request her signature, they were allegedly met with casteist slurs from Deepa, her husband Chinnasamy, and son Bharathraj. Distressed by this incident, the residents filed a complaint at the Uthiyur police station. However, they claim that no action has been taken on their complaint, with police only engaging in reconciliation talks.
Frustrated by the lack of action, residents set up a temporary shelter near the Uthiyur bus stand and began a sit-in protest. They expressed disappointment that even the Kundadam Block Development Officers hadn't responded to their concerns about water scarcity.
Protesters questioned the apparent inaction of law enforcement, suggesting preferential treatment for DMK functionaries. They also accused DMK administrators in the constituency of the Minister for Information and Publicity of increasing lawlessness.
As tensions continue to simmer, a heavy police presence has been deployed in Uthiyur to maintain order.
The Sengodampalayam panchayat, comprising over 15 hamlets, is led by a woman president named Saraswathi, with Balaramanathan of BJP as the vice-president. The panchayat council includes eight members from Congress, DMK, and independents. Recently, accusations surfaced that the vice-president and four other members were working against the panchayat president.
With the panchayat having funds exceeding Rs. 90 lakhs, plans were proposed to address water scarcity by drilling borewells and improving road infrastructure. However, these plans required signatures from ward members on resolutions, which five members, including the vice-president, refused to provide.
Yesterday, residents approached the panchayat president to complain about water scarcity. The president informed them that due to the lack of signatures from these five members, even contract workers in the panchayat hadn't received their salaries for the past two months.
Subsequently, when Dalit residents visited ward member Deepa's house to request her signature, they were allegedly met with casteist slurs from Deepa, her husband Chinnasamy, and son Bharathraj. Distressed by this incident, the residents filed a complaint at the Uthiyur police station. However, they claim that no action has been taken on their complaint, with police only engaging in reconciliation talks.
Frustrated by the lack of action, residents set up a temporary shelter near the Uthiyur bus stand and began a sit-in protest. They expressed disappointment that even the Kundadam Block Development Officers hadn't responded to their concerns about water scarcity.
Protesters questioned the apparent inaction of law enforcement, suggesting preferential treatment for DMK functionaries. They also accused DMK administrators in the constituency of the Minister for Information and Publicity of increasing lawlessness.
As tensions continue to simmer, a heavy police presence has been deployed in Uthiyur to maintain order.