Dalits death: Tamil Nadu Govt asked to probe
From our correspondent
The People's Watch, a Human Rights Organisation, has asked the Government of Tamil Nadu to set up a special team to investigate the suspected death of one Raja, a Dalit, for reportedly not presenting himself before the local panchayat at Mekillarpatty in Madurai district.
The Panchayat had summoned Raja for an enquiry regarding the felling of a neem tree of one Perumal in whose farm he was working. According to Raja's wife, her husband refused to attend the enquiry held on 18 February 2006 but agreed to pay the money for the tree. She said her husband who left her house on 19 February 2006 did not return and the following day he was found dead.
The People's Watch alleged that though Raja's wife Panchu and his brother-in-law suspected that he had been murdered. They gave a complaint to the police, who took time to register it. Then the police finally registered it a case of suicide.
The police also threatened Panchu's mother and sister, asking them not to make the death of Raja an issue and agree for a compromise. Despite the fact that Raja died under suspicious circumstances, the police allowed the body to be cremated.
The police were now asking the victim's family to agree for a compromise on payment of Rs 85,000 which had been already handed over to the Usilampatti Taluk police. The People’s Watch wanted action to be taken against the real culprits and give protection to Panchu and her family members.
The police, when contacted, said it was a case of suicide and denied that they intervened in the case at any point of time.