MADURAI: With the State Election Commission (SEC) determined to curb violation of model code of conduct (MCC), residents of Keeripatti, a hamlet notorious for discrimination against Dalits, are still under the clutches of the caste Hindus, who prevent them from contesting the local body elections.Keeripatti, a small village in Usilampatti union, is one among three villages, including Pappapatti and Nattarmangalam in Chellampatti union, to hit the headlines following alleged atrocities committed by the caste Hindus. The caste Hindus even opposed the move to elect Dalits as panchayat presidents for over a decade though the government had declared the villages reserved for Dalits.Despite the intervention of successive district collectors and the government to resolve the issue in order to make Dalits head the panchayat union, the caste Hindus did not give in to peace talks. They kept intimidating the Dalits, who were willing to contest the elections. During the five-year term from 2006 to 2011, the three panchayats heads had been provided police security as they feared attacks by the caste Hindus for being elected unopposed with the support of the collector. Even as their term draws to a close, the issue was once again raked up when the sitting president of Keeripatti panchayat Baluchamy and four other Dalit candidates, M Pazhani, B Chinnasamy, A Subban, and N Subban, filed their nomination papers. However, the caste Hindus have named a Dalit, Mokkakalai, of the same village for the post. With his nomination, the number of contestants has gone up to six. Writer Tamil Mudhalvan of Keeripatti, residing in Madurai, said they had chosen Mokkakalai exploiting his innocence. Baluchamy, who is also the branch secretary of the CPM, told Express that he had been elected unopposed in 2006 following the intervention of the then collector. However, discrimination against the community was still continuing. He also pointed out an incident, which took place on Wednesday. “We were campaigning for the elections in the village when a group of caste Hindus intercepted and threatened us with dire consequences and asked us to withdraw our nomination papers as they had nominated Mokkakalai for the post. Then, we made representations to SP Asra Garg and Collector U Sagayam the same day. They assured us that action would be taken against such atrocities against the Dalits,” he said.
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