TN Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Commission visits Vengaivayal and Vadakadu; DIG transfers Vadakadu inspector

Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Commission assesses aftermath of caste-related incidents, provides relief to affected residents.

The Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Commission on Friday visited Vadakadu and Vengaivayal villages to assess the aftermath of recent caste-related incidents and interacted with affected residents.

The Commission, led by Chairperson S. Tamizhvanan, visited Vadakadu in Alangudi taluk, where a violent clash broke out on late May 5 between members of the Scheduled Caste and Most Backward Class communities during the Sri Muthumariamman temple festival. The incident left over 20 people injured, led to the torching of a Dalit woman’s house, and resulted in the destruction of several vehicles.

The four-member delegation also included Vice-Chairperson Imayam V. Annamalai and members S. Anandaraja and P. Elanchezhian. They visited the injured at the Pudukkottai Government Medical College Hospital and reviewed their condition with the hospital dean. As part of the relief efforts, a cheque for ₹46,000 was handed over to S. Mallika, a 58-year-old Dalit woman whose home was destroyed in the violence. The Commission assured that other affected persons would also receive compensation following detailed assessment.

Later in the day, the Commission visited Vengaivayal village, the site of the 2022 alleged water contamination incident where human fecal matter was reportedly mixed into an overhead water tank serving Dalit households. Members met with the residents to hear their concerns and assess current conditions.

At a review meeting held at the Pudukkottai Collectorate, Mr. Tamizhvanan called for proactive policing and administrative intervention to prevent further caste-related tensions in Vadakadu. Joined by District Collector M. Aruna and Superintendent of Police Abhishek Gupta, he said a detailed report on the incident had been requested from the Alangudi DSP. He urged community-level dialogue to restore social harmony and stressed that those responsible must be held accountable, particularly during sensitive occasions like temple festivals. District administration has also decided on temporarily shutting down the TASMAC shop in Vadakadu.

On the same day, Inspector Dhanapalan of the Vadakadu police station, under whose jurisdiction the recent clash between MBC and SC members occurred, was transferred and placed under compulsory wait by Tiruchi DIG V. Varun Kumar.

Meanwhile, police sources said the number of arrests in connection with the Vadakadu clash has increased. A total of 26 individuals have been arrested so far—20 from the MBC community and six from the SC community. Several of the arrested are currently undergoing treatment for injuries at Pudukkottai Government Medical College Hospital and Alangudi Government Hospital, under police protection.