A disabled Dalit man and a migrant worker from Odisha were allegedly hacked to death by a nine-member gang in a targeted caste attack in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu on Monday night, March 2. The killings took place in Perumpaththu village under the Nanguneri Police Station limits and have triggered widespread outrage across the region.
The deceased have been identified as 42-year-old John Mark, a resident of the same village, and 57-year-old Srinath Gadda, who had come from Odisha as a migrant worker. Five others from the Other Backward Class community were also injured in the attack, two of whom were reported to be in a critical condition.
How the Attack Unfolded
According to police, the victims were sitting at a tea shop on Monday night when a gang of nine men arrived on three motorcycles and attacked them with sickles and other sharp weapons. John Mark and Srinath Gadda died on the spot.
Later reports indicate that the assailants, who belong to a dominant intermediate caste, had allegedly planned the attack in advance with the specific intention of intimidating Dalit youth in the locality. Two of the accused had reportedly been named in a previous attack against Dalits, though their identities had not been made public due to provisions under the Juvenile Justice Act.
Police identified the accused as Kannan, Vasantha Kumar, Anthony Michel, Uchimahali alias Mittai, Raja alias Esakkiraja, Subbaia alias Subash and Kalyani, all aged between 19 and 21 years.
Police Form Special Teams, Make Arrests
Six special teams were formed late on Monday night to trace the accused. Several of them were arrested on Tuesday, March 3, and have since been remanded to judicial custody. “It is a sensitive case. The police will take tough action,” a police official said.
A police official told PTI on condition of anonymity that the investigation was progressing. “Police are taking tough action. They have traced and arrested some people. They are conducting a detailed enquiry,” the official said.
Family of John Mark Refuses to Claim Body
On Wednesday afternoon, the family of Srinath Gadda received his body and cremated him at the Tirunelveli Corporation crematorium. However, the family of John Mark refused to take back his body, demanding that all accused be arrested before they would do so. They called for strict action against those responsible for the killing.
The incident prompted locals from both OBC and Dalit communities to stage demonstrations in the area, demanding swift justice and the arrest of all those involved.
Police Warn Against Inflammatory Social Media Posts
The Tirunelveli District Police issued a separate warning about the circulation of objectionable and inflammatory content on social media in connection with the case. Cases have been registered at Vijayanarayanam Police Station and Nanguneri Police Station against individuals spreading provocative content online.
Tirunelveli Superintendent of Police Dr V Prassanna Kumar warned that severe legal action would be taken against anyone caught spreading provocative, divisive or violence-instigating content on social media within the district.
