With 426 caste-clashes last year, TN only second to UP

Tamil Nadu stands only second to Uttar Pradesh in the number of caste-related clashes reported in the country in 2015. The state recorded more than 100 per cent increase in caste clashes compared to 2014. Bihar, which had gained infamy owing to the instances of riots and caste oppression, stood a distant third, according to the NCRB data released recently. Out of the 426 cases, 186 cases involved atrocities committed against members of the Scheduled Castes, in which 308 people were victimised. In 240 other caste-related clashes, 270 people were victimised, reveals NCRB. 

“Communalisation of the civil society is dangerous and that is what is contributing to the increasing cases of caste clashes,” says Punitha Pandian, a noted Dalit activist. He adds that when people talk about atrocities, nobody talks about the discrimination they face in their daily life. Pandian says despite a Madras High Court order directing the state to fill up 25,000 backward class vacancies in government departments four years ago, nothing had been done by the government so far. Activists also point out the lacunae in implementation of the SC and ST (prevention of atrocities) Act. Even senior police officials admit that appointment of officials in a caste-agnostic manner in sensitive districts in the state is a rarity.

“Many postings are based on recommendations of politicians hailing from a prominent caste in the area and atrocities committed by these groups go unregistered,” a senior police official said. Activists say they had been demanding postings of enough number of officials attached to SC/ST and minority community in caste sensitive areas. “There is no instrument to properly implement the SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) Act. We need a committee to handle such cases. Cases reported by Dalits are not registered under this Act and misuse of the Act also happens,” says Prof Karl Marx, a human rights activist