Siju V (19) from the Chittoor Community in Palakkad, Kerala, was assaulted, stripped and tied to an electric pole by two men, Vishnu Das (31) and Reji Mathew (21) from Sholaypur, Attappadi. The two men allege that Siju deliberately slipped in front of their mini-truck, carrying milk, from the local dairy plant. Siju was later brought to the Government Tribal Speciality Hospital in Attappadi.
Though the hospital had informed the local police station about the assault, the authorities did not take any further action until May 27, after the video of the assault went viral and sparked outrage on social media.
The Agali police have registered an FIR against Das and Mathew under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, citing the tribal identity of the survivor.Siju said that he accidentally slipped on the road as the mini-truck approached.
“Two men got out, shouted abusive words, and attacked me without provocation. They accused me of deliberately falling in front of their vehicle, even though there was enough space for the truck to pass. One of them tied me to an electric pole while the other recorded it on a mobile phone,” he said in his complaint.
In a counter-complaint filed by Das and Mathew, it is alleged that Siju was drunk, and that he tried to throw stones at their mini truck and had damaged it. Both Das and Mathew work as collection agents for a local dairy.
Local activists and rights advocacy groups demanded a fair and prompt response to such atrocities against marginalised communities.
The tribal communities in the Attappady region of Kerala are a sensitive community in the State, which has been facing various challenges like malnutrition, infant deaths, displacement, limited healthcare facilities and education opportunities, discrimination and other atrocities.
