The police in Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, are on high alert after a Dalit youth was brutally attacked and killed. The victim, Rajesh, aged 27, was a temporary employee working at the Sengottai municipality. Two bike-borne assailants, belonging to the Most Backward Community (MBC), had been waiting for him and attacked him with sickles as soon as he arrived at the municipal complex building. While the accused, Mari and Manthiramoorthi, were arrested by the police, the possibility of retaliation from the Dalit community cannot be ruled out.
Rajesh’s relatives staged a blockade on the Kollam-Thirumangalam road in protest. The police must be cautious as they fear this incident may trigger a caste war. Several back-to-back killings occurred in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli and Madurai districts in 2021 after the Stalin government was elected to power. In response, State Director General of Police, C. Sylendra Babu, camped in Madurai to regain control of the situation.
Although they do not expect a similar scenario to unfold in Tenkasi, the police are acutely aware of the possibility of retaliation by the Dalit community’s relatives and caste members. This event highlights the recurring problem of caste-based violence in India, with law enforcement trying to maintain peace and order. The police must be vigilant, and the government should take proactive measures to address this critical issue.
