A recent incident of caste-based clashes among students in Tirunelveli district has sent shockwaves through the community. This unsettling event follows a panel’s recommendations, which have faced criticism from the Hindu community for being perceived as anti-Hindu. With tensions still running high, there is a pressing need to address the situation before it escalates into a major conflict.
Merely months after a tragic assault on a Scheduled Caste teenager and his sister by three individuals from a dominant caste in August 2023, another clash has unfolded in the district. The altercation resulted in injuries and hospitalizations, prompting the state government to establish a panel led by retired High Court judge K. Chandru. The panel was tasked with suggesting ways to prevent such conflicts from recurring. However, the recently submitted recommendations have faced backlash for being perceived as anti-Hindu in nature. These recommendations include prohibiting Hindus from adhering to certain customs such as wearing bangles, wristbands, sporting kumkum or sacred markings on their foreheads, using flowers, and anklets. Surprisingly, the panel remained silent on the use of hijabs, burkas, or wearing holy crosses or rosaries. As a result, debates have ensued, with many condemning the Chandru panel recommendations and calling for their dismissal.
On July 1, a conflict erupted at Rosalind Chelliah Government Higher Secondary School in Maruthakulam village, located in the Nanguneri Block of Tirunelveli District. This incident has left the entire community deeply dismayed. The school caters to students from Ponnakudi, Mayaneri, and Maruthakulam villages. According to media reports, the clash took place during the afternoon break on July 1, 2024, involving students from grades 10 to 12 hailing from Ponnakudi and Mayaneri areas. The altercation resulted in serious injuries to a class 12 student, who sustained wounds on his hand and back. Swift action was taken by the school authorities, intervening to disperse the involved students and initiating inquiries into the violence.
The injured students were swiftly transported by ambulance to Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital for urgent medical attention. Witnesses from Ponnakudi alleged that the clash happened when students from Mayaneri targeted them with caste-based insults, precipitating the violence based on regional and caste affiliations.
One of the injured victims said “Upon our arrival, they assaulted us claiming we were also residents of Ponnakudi. They targeted me specifically based on my caste.”
"நீ அந்த ஊர் தானனு சாதி பெயரை சொல்லி அடிச்சாங்க"… நெல்லையில் மீண்டும் நாங்குநேரி போல் நடந்த சம்பவம்.. சாதி ரீதியான பிரச்சனையில் மருதகுளம் அரசு பள்ளியில் நடந்த தாக்குதல் – மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்ட மாணவர்கள் கூறிய அதிர்ச்சி தகவல்#Nellai | #School | #Students | #Attack |… pic.twitter.com/HrSbyLA6ls
— Polimer News (@polimernews) July 1, 2024
Another victim, a student said ,“There was a quarrel between two 10th class students, it seems a boy from my village has called up and talked. In response to the threat, the Mayaneri boy had called and threatened that he will cut and stab him. Today he went and asked why he had called and made threats, in response ten to fifteen members beat him together… the two were fighting and the fifteen members surrounded them and witnessed the altercation.“
Parents and relatives of the injured students have expressed concerne over the recurring clashes among students from different communities at Rosalind Chelliah Government High School. They blamed the school management for failing to take corrective and suitable action to prevent such incidents.
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