Coimbatore: In a shameless act, a section of people from an upper caste have allegedly assaulted people of oppressed caste for tying to enter a temple in Kumuttipathy village near Madukkarai here on Wednesday.
Coimbatore: In a shameless act, a section of people from an upper caste have allegedly assaulted people of oppressed caste for trying to enter a temple in Kumuttipathy village near Madukkarai here on Wednesday.
Over a week, the Kumuttipathy Village near Madukkarai wore a festive look, as the people were celebrating the annual Mariyamman temple festivity. Today, being the 3rd day of the festival, a group of scheduled caste ( SC) people of Kumuttipathy went on a procession carrying their offerings to the deity of the temple.
It is alleged that a group of people from the upper caste have stopped their procession and denied entry into the temple. The people have allegedly used caste-based derogatory words to chase them away.
The SC people retaliated and disagreed to their conditions to stay outside the temple. In no time a scuffle broke out between the two groups. It is alleged that the upper caste people brutally attacked the lower caste people including women using iron rods and used derogatory words.
More than 20 people were injured in the gruesome act. Sarathkumar (19), Jayaprakash (33), Mariammal (35), Saritha (27), Thulasiammal (80), Murugathal (48) among the injured were admitted in GH for treatment.
An injured woman lamented that “Around 4 pm, we went on a procession to the temple with our offerings. A section of higher caste people blocked our way and mentioned our caste name and scolded us in inappropriate words. We ignored their words and moved further near the temple and kept our offerings outside. Meanwhile, more than 50 people from the upper caste assaulted us using iron rods. Even women and the elderly suffered injuries".
"For ages, we are being treated like filth. Aren’t we human beings? Should we be ashamed of being born in lower castes? God is for everybody, why are we denied access to temples?", grieved the woman in tears.
The Madukkarai police have commenced an investigation.