Caste Hindus attack SC youth in Tamil Nadu for riding two-wheeler; three held

Tamil Nadu caste violence: A 20-year-old Scheduled Caste youth, student of the government college in Sivaganga district, was attacked by a three-member gang of caste Hindus for riding a motorcycle

A 20-year-old Scheduled Caste youth, studying in a government college in Sivaganga district in south Tamil Nadu, was attacked by a three-member gang of caste Hindus for riding a motorcycle in which the victim suffered multiple injuries on Wednesday (February 12, 2025).

Three persons were arrested on Thursday (February 13, 2025) and the Manamadurai SIPCOT police registered cases under various Sections, including attempt to murder and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act among others based on a complaint from the victim’s mother Chellammal, wife of Raman.

Preliminary inquiries revealed that Mr. Ayyasami, a resident of Melapidavoor near Manamadurai, and a third year Mathematics student in the Raja Duraisingam Government College of Arts and Science, was returning home on his bike around 6 p.m. when the three persons — Vinod Kumar (21), Adiswaran (22) and Vallarasu (21) — intercepted and questioned him for riding the bike in front of them. A wordy altercation ensued and one of the attackers pulled out a ‘vaal’ (sword-shaped weapon) and attacked Mr. Ayyasami, in which he suffered multiple injuries on the hands.

A terrified Mr. Ayyasami ran from the spot to his house. His mother rushed him to hospital. After first aid, he was taken to the Sivaganga Government Medical College in a 108-emergency ambulance service. Subsequently, doctors referred him to the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, police said. All the three persons were arrested.

Condemning the incident, People’s Watch Madurai executive director and advocate Henri Tipaghne told The Hindu that the Tamil Nadu government had not been able to end such violence.

Such repetitive cases against the marginalised people would lead to a social turmoil, he said. When a group of youths used weapons casually, it rattled the society. The government, irrespective of whoever was in power, should deal with such attacks with an iron hand and ensure that they stopped, and social justice prevailed.

Human Rights advocate R. Satyamurthi said there were reports of abuses against the SCs on school campuses. The incident of attack on a college student was baffling. The government, which claimed to protect social justice, did not appear to be serious. It should reach out to the younger generation to shun violence and be together.