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{{short description|Caste related violence against Dalits in Tamil Nadu}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox civil conflict
| title = 2012 Dharmapuri violence
| subtitle =Caste-related violence against Dalits
| partof =
| image =
| caption =
| date =7 November 2012
| place =[[Dharmapuri district]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates =
| causes =Caste tensions
| goals =
| methods =[[Arson]], [[vandalism]], [[looting]]
| status =
| result =
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| casualties1 =
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| fatalities =
| injuries =
| arrests =142
| damage =*268 Dalit houses set on fire
*1500+ people left homeless
| detentions =
| charged =
| fined =
| effect =
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In the '''2012 Dharmapuri violence''', a [[Vanniyar]] caste mob set fire to about 268 Dalit houses in Natham, old and new Kondampatti and Annanagar [[Dalit]] colonies in [[Dharmapuri district]], [[Tamil Nadu]] on 8 November 2012.<ref name=":2" /> The violence occurred after a [[Vanniyar]] girl from Sellankottai village, and a [[Dalit]] boy, from the neighbouring Dalit colony of Natham, eloped due to parental opposition against their marriage. A caste panchayat held on the morning of 7 November by leaders from both communities ruled that the girl be returned to her family. Distraught at her decision to stay with her husband, her father allegedly committed suicide. The discovery of his body later that day is said to have provoked a 1,500-strong mob to rampage through Natham and two smaller Dalit settlements, Kondampatti and Anna Nagar, where it set ablaze over 200 houses, damaged at least 50 others, and allegedly looted valuables and cash worth lakhs of rupees. The mob rampaged for four hours and was brought under control after arrest of 90 men and an additional deployment of 1000 policemen.<ref name="arrest">{{cite news|author=K A Shaji |author2=V Senthil Kumaran |author3=Karthick S|first=TNN|title=Inter-caste marriage sparks riot in Tamil Nadu district, 148 dalit houses torched|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-09/india/35015844_1_dalit-houses-dalit-youth-dalit-boy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127015708/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-09/india/35015844_1_dalit-houses-dalit-youth-dalit-boy|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 January 2013|access-date=30 April 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=9 November 2012}}</ref>

While [[S. Ramadoss|Ramadoss]], belonging to Vanniyar political outfit [[Pattali Makkal Katchi]] (PMK), had rubbished allegations that his party orchestrated the incident, many Dalits believe otherwise. His party is said to have fomented tension between Vanniyars and Dalits by publicly condemning marriages between the two.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shoba|first=V|date=November 25, 2012|title=Love and violence in Dharmapuri - Indian Express|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/love-and-violence-in-dharmapuri/1035856/0|access-date=|website=archive.indianexpress.com}}</ref>

Many of the victims had blamed the fecklessness of the police and the district administration as this was a planned incident where a caste mob had been mobilised from 22 neighbouring villages. Though around 300 policemen were present on the spot anticipating trouble, they failed to control the violent gathering as the mob was eight times higher than the number of deployed forces.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Shaji|first1=K. A.|date=November 8, 2012|first2=V. Senthil|last2= Kumaran |title=Dalit houses torched, caste violence in Dharmapuri |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Dalit-houses-torched-caste-violence-in-Dharmapuri/articleshow/17144263.cms|access-date=2020-07-10|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/love-and-violence-in-dharmapuri/1035856/4|title=Love and violence in Dharmapuri - Indian Express|publisher=|access-date=9 December 2016}}</ref> The Sub-inspector of Police, belonging to same caste of boy, and the constables responsible for maintaining peace in the area have since been transferred or suspended.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

The [[National Commission for Scheduled Castes]] (NCSC) described the attack as well- organized and pre-planned.<ref name="SC-Panel-Organized" />

==Background==

The [[Vanniyars]] are an intermediate caste dominant in northern Tamil Nadu and form 12-13% of the state's population. The [[Adi Dravida]]r community, formerly called [[Paraiyars]], make up approximately half of the state's Dalit population and form around 10% of the state's population. Dharmapuri had been a stronghold of the Naxalite movement until the early 2000s, and the Communists and other Leftist groups encouraged a solidarity between different communities and ensured casteism was significantly reduced. With the collapse of [[Naxalism]], the people, once monolithic in their opposition to untouchability and discrimination, were now lured by caste identities and the promise of power. Thus began an era where Dalits were made vulnerable by radicalised groups and Vanniyars turned sanctimonious about their perceived position in society. This inevitably led to clashes between the communities.<ref>{{cite web|last=Warrier|first=Shobha|title=The Rediff Interview/R Thirumalvalavan|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/aug/12inter.htm|work=Rediff|access-date=30 April 2013}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Chinnappan|first=Christina|date=2019-04-25|title=The Dharmapuri Caste Violence of 2012 {{!}} #DalitHistoryMonth|url=https://feminisminindia.com/2019/04/26/dharmapuri-caste-violence/|access-date=2020-07-10|website=Feminism In India}}</ref> These caste attitudes were strengthened by politicians, especially those of Vanniyar political outfit [[Pattali Makkal Katchi|PMK]]. In April 2012, PMK [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]], [[Kaduvetti Guru]] incited caste [[fanaticism]] when he asked the members of community to kill non-Vanniyar men who marry Vanniyar women at a Vanniyar youth meeting held in [[Mamallapuram]].<ref>{{cite web|author =Chakra|title=வெட்டி தள்ளுங்க..: சாதி உணர்வை தூண்டிய காடுவெட்டி குரு மீது மாமல்லபுரம் போலீஸ் வழக்குப்பதிவு|url=https://tamil.oneindia.com/news/2012/05/17/tamilnadu-case-filed-against-kaduvetti-guru-mamallapuram-154122.html|work=OneIndia|date=17 May 2012 |access-date=30 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2924/stories/20121214292404000.htm|title=Double disadvantage|access-date=9 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513054044/http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2924/stories/20121214292404000.htm|archive-date=13 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-why-i-want-to-ask-disturbing-questions-and-say-the-unsaid/20121128.htm#5|title=Why I want to ask disturbing questions and say the unsaid|access-date=9 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327012054/http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-why-i-want-to-ask-disturbing-questions-and-say-the-unsaid/20121128.htm|archive-date=27 March 2016|url-status=live|quote=...Kaduvetti Guru has repeatedly been broadcasting this message. At a Chitra Pournami event in Mahabalipuram addressing Vanniyar youth, Guru openly exhorted that men of other castes marrying Vanniyar women should be killed.}}</ref>

Caste conflicts were present years before the violence in the Dharmapuri district. Although the Kondampatti village of Dharmapuri district is a panchayat village, the Dalits have access to the panchayat office, ration, schools in the nearby Vanniyar village of Puliyampatti. Dalits have access to the goods in these shops only after the Vanniyars had purchased. If anyone defiles these rules, they are beaten up and abused. There were several reports about Dalit women beaten up but no action was taken by the police despite lodged complaints.<ref name=":2" />

== Incident ==
The unrest was sparked with the eloping of 20 year-old Divya, a Vanniyar from Sellankottai village, with 19 year-old E. Ilavarasan, a Dalit from the neighbouring Natham colony. Both were college students, and had been in a relationship for a long time. Their relationship was known to Ilavarasan's parents for at least a year before their elopement. The couple fled from the area when their parents opposed the marriage, and got married in a [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]] temple on 12 October 2012.<ref name=":0" /> After their flight, Ilavarasan's parents fled too, fearing an outburst of violence from the Vanniyars. Two weeks later, on 7 November, a caste panchayat of both communities was gathered, in which the couple were ordered to come home. When they refused, many Vanniyar community members taunted Divya's father, G. Nagaraj, for bringing "shame" to the community. Facing humiliation and distraught over the refusal of his daughter to return, he [[hanged himself]] on the same evening.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-07-05|title=Dravidianism is dead. Long live Ilavarasan!|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/chennaitalkies/dravidianism-is-dead-long-live-ilavarasan/|access-date=2020-07-10|website=Times of India Blog|language=en-US}}</ref>

His body was discovered the next day. For his funeral, Vanniyars from 22 other villages had gathered. That afternoon, a 1500-strong Vanniayar mob marched towards the Natham colony, bearing Nagaraj's body, shouting caste slogans and cutting trees to block the [[Tirupattur]] highway. At the time, most of the Dalit men, who were daily-wagers in [[Coimbatore]] and [[Bangalore]], were away, and the women and children that were there fled into nearby fields. Around 4:30, the mob charged into Natham bearing petrol and weapons. They looted every house, and torched many of them. The mob then moved on to Anna Nagar, 1.5 km away, and repeated the process while shouting obscenities. 36 out of 50 houses in the colony were set on fire. In Kodampatti, the mob was able to torch 14 houses but broke apart when a police team arrived.<ref name="arrest" /> The head of the Sellankottai village claimed the villagers of Sellankottai had nothing to do with the violence.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=The Divya-Ilavarasan tragic love story: A year on|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/the-divya-ilavarasan-tragic-love-story-a-year-on/20140705.htm|access-date=2020-07-10|website=Rediff|language=en}}</ref>

The attack was reportedly organized by Vanniyar leaders to teach the Dalits who were upwardly mobile a lesson.<ref name=":2" />

==Damages==
As many as 268 homes of Dalits (of the [[Adi Dravida]] community) near Naikkankottai in [[Dharmapuri district]] were torched by the higher-caste group.<ref name="Toi-Incident">{{cite news|title=Dalit houses torched, caste violence in Dharmapuri|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Dalit-houses-torched-caste-violence-in-Dharmapuri/articleshow/17144263.cms|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629122159/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-08/coimbatore/34993610_1_dalit-boy-dalit-houses-caste-violence|url-status=live|archive-date=29 June 2013|access-date=26 April 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=8 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=13 November 2012|title=Dharmapuri violence: Attack on Dalits pre-planned|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2012/nov/13/dharmapuri-violence-attack-on-dalits-pre-planned-424811.html|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> 50 bikes and 4 vans were also burned in the violence.<ref name=":2" />

The victims have alleged that ‘systematic destruction’ of their properties and livelihood resources has taken place. Around 1500 who were homeless after the incident were put up in a ground nearby and were provided food and clothing <ref>{{cite news|title=தர்மபுரி: வீடு எரிக்கப்பட்ட தாழ்த்தப்பட்ட மக்கள் வெட்ட வெளியில்|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/tamil/india/2012/11/121109_dharmapuri.shtml|access-date=30 April 2013|newspaper=BBC Tamil|date=9 November 2012}}</ref> and also sanctioned [[Indian rupee|Rs]] 50,000 as relief from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Relief Fund.<ref name="HC-first-response">{{cite news|last=Sangameswaran|first=K. T.|title=Dharmapuri incident serious: HC|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/dharmapuri-incident-serious-hc/article4082173.ece|access-date=30 April 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=10 November 2012}}</ref> The affected people staged a fast demanding Chief Minister to visit the affected areas and to increase compensation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Dharmapuri-dalits-on-hunger-strike-wants-CM-to-visit-CBI-probe/articleshow/17408189.cms |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629123946/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-29/coimbatore/35434504_1_hunger-strike-dalits-dharmapuri |url-status=live |archive-date=2013-06-29 |title=Dharmapuri dalits on hunger strike, wants CM to visit, CBI probe |date=2012-11-29 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2013-05-16}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
The Vanniyar Sangam organized a meeting to form a broader anti-Dalit front after the violence, only 12 among the expected 500 turned up for the event which was then quietly called off.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|date=2015-06-05|title=Caste Fire in Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu|url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2012/52/commentary/caste-fire-dharmapuri-tamil-nadu.html|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|language=en|volume=47|issue=52|pages=7–8}}</ref>

Ramadoss created the "All Communities Federation," a nine-member front representing intermediary castes. The PMK leaders said that Dalit youngsters dressed in jeans wearing T-shirts and sunglasses with their motorbikes and cell phones were wooing caste-Hindu girls into marriage. To expose these "farcical love marriages" the federation arranged public meetings in several areas.<ref>{{Cite web|last=SUBRAMANIAN|first=T. S.|title=Stoking caste flames|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/social-issues/stoking-caste-flames/article4705528.ece|access-date=2021-11-28|website=Frontline|date=15 May 2013 |language=en}}</ref>

==Reactions==
* Members of [[National Commission for Scheduled Castes]] after visiting the colonies blamed the attitude of the state police for failing to control the violence and stated that rise in status of Dalits are not tolerated by dominant caste Hindus which results in incidents of violence.<ref name="SC-Panel-comment">{{cite web|url=http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article1356312.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130082622/http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article1356312.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 November 2012 |title=SC panel blames police for Dharmapuri violence |publisher=The New Indian Express |date=2012-11-27 |access-date=2013-05-16}}</ref> They also alleged that the violence was a well-organized and planned attack on Dalits and not a spontaneous anguish over a single incident of suicide.<ref name="SC-Panel-Organized">{{cite web|author =R. Arivanantham |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/attack-on-dalits-was-planned-national-commission-for-scs/article4090674.ece |title=Attack on Dalits was planned: National Commission for SCs |work=The Hindu |date=2012-11-12 |access-date=2013-05-16}}</ref>
* [[Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi]], a Dalit-based political party demanded a [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]] probe into the incident as it did not have faith in local police inquiry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/tamil-nadu/vck-wants-cbi-probe-into-dharmapuri-violence_812808.html |title=VCK wants CBI probe into Dharmapuri violence |publisher=Zee News |date=2012-11-25 |access-date=2013-05-16}}</ref> VCK president [[Thol. Thirumavalavan]] compared the incidents to 1990s Kodiyankulam violence where the main reason for the violence was upward mobility of Dalits in economic, educational, political fronts.<ref>{{cite web|author =D. Karthikeyan |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/dalits-being-targeted-because-of-their-upward-economic-mobility-say-leaders/article4125413.ece |title=Dalits being targeted because of their upward economic mobility, say leaders |work=The Hindu |date=2012-11-23 |access-date=2013-05-16}}</ref>
* [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] party constituted a fact finding committee came out with a report which stated
{{Quotation|The attack was a planned one. Inter-caste love marriage was not the sole reason behind it. Rather, the attack was the result of a chain of events. The PMK functionaries are found to have instigated and carried out the attacks. While the police is yet to arrest all the culprits behind the attack, they have booked a few innocents who are not connected with the incident}} It also blamed the state government for not taking enough steps to restore normalcy or implementing relief measures.<ref name="DMK-fact-report">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/dmk-factfinding-committee-points-a-finger-at-pmk/article4124002.ece |title=DMK fact-finding committee points a finger at PMK |work=The Hindu |date=2012-11-23 |access-date=2013-05-16}}</ref>

* [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] MLAs [[K. Balakrishnan (CPI-M)|K. Balakrishnan]], [[P. Dillibabu]] and K. Bheema Rao visited the affected people to console and provide relief materials. They told the attack which seem to be well planned could not be prevented because of Intelligence failure and failure to keep a check on Kangaroo courts and demanded police to take action against those responsible under [[Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989|SC-ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/cpi-m-mlas-visit-dalit-colonies/article4085709.ece |title=CPI (M) MLAs visit Dalit colonies |work=The Hindu |date=2012-11-11 |access-date=2013-05-16}}</ref>
* [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] in Tamil Nadu said that the government has failed to check increasing incidents of breakdown of law and order and the police are not given full power to deal with it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/tamil-nadu/people-will-take-to-streets-if-govt-fails-to-check_810243.html |title=People will take to streets if govt fails to check |publisher=Zee News |date=2012-11-09 |access-date=2013-05-16}}</ref>
* PMK founder [[S. Ramadoss]] claimed there were many 'staged love marriages' happening in the state where Dalit men lure Vanniyar women claiming to be in love and later duping them, ask for a ransom after marriage through Kangaroo courts. This was seen as a budding parallel to [[Love Jihad]] promoted by Hindutva groups.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/dharmapuri-violence-why-tn-could-become-a-hotbed-for-love-jihad-543446.html|title=PMK's anti-Dalit rant in TN resembles Kerala's 'love jihad' theory - Firstpost|date=3 December 2012|publisher=|access-date=9 December 2016}}</ref> He also stated the mob that indulged in violence was cutting across castes / party lines unlike mentioned in sections of media / parties as mainly consisting of Vanniyar/PMK men.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article1343977.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120022628/http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article1343977.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 November 2012 |title=Ramadoss joins issue with VCK on Dharmapuri violence |publisher=The New Indian Express |date= |access-date=2013-05-16}}</ref> He also formed an alliance of caste Hindu organizations against Dalit assertion.<ref>{{cite web|author =B. Kolappan |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/ramadoss-consolidates-intermediate-caste-groups-against-dalits/article4156999.ece |title=Ramadoss consolidates intermediate caste groups against Dalits |work=The Hindu |date=2012-12-02 |access-date=2013-05-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Gounder-groups-join-Paattali-Makkal-Katchis-platform-against-inter-caste-marriages/articleshow/17712898.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103082157/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-22/coimbatore/35968581_1_kongu-vellala-goundergal-peravai-inter-caste-marriages-vanniyars |url-status=live |archive-date=2014-01-03 |title=Gounder groups join Paattali Makkal Katchi's platform against inter-caste marriages |date=2012-12-22 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2013-05-16}}</ref> asking for amendment to prevent the "misuse" of [[Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989|Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act]] and a ban on intercaste marriages, which was opposed by VCK and Periyarist groups like [[Dravidar Kazhagam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tamil-nadu-dharamapuri-violence-inter-caste-marriges-122036-2012-11-19 |title=In Tamil Nadu, after caste violence cupid enters political discourse |publisher=India Today |date=2012-11-20 |access-date=2013-05-16}}</ref>

==Probe and court proceedings==
The Tamil Nadu government transferred the probe from local police to [[Crime Branch CID]].<ref>{{cite web|author =PTI |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/dharmapuri-violence-probe-transferred-to-cbcid/article4102280.ece |title=Dharmapuri violence: probe transferred to CB-CID |work=The Hindu |date=2012-11-16 |access-date=2013-05-16}}</ref> More than 90 persons were arrested and cases were filed against over 200 people.<ref name=arrest/> The [[Madras High Court]] has stated the incident as serious and instructed the state authorities to submit a status report and the counter affidavit on that date.<ref name="HC-first-response"/> A PIL was filed seeking the suspension of [[District collector]] and [[Superintendent of police (India)|Superintendent of police]] for inaction.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-22/chennai/35302225_1_dalit-families-inter-caste-marriage-caste-leaders |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629123531/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-22/chennai/35302225_1_dalit-families-inter-caste-marriage-caste-leaders |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-06-29 |title=Dharmapuri violence: PIL seeks suspension of collector and SP |date=2012-11-22 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2013-05-16}}</ref> On 3 December 2012, The district collector told the court that adequate relief measures were provided to victims and steps have been taken to maintain law and order in the area. The Superintendent of Police said cases have been registered and 142 people have been arrested.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/dharmapuri-violence-dalit-victims-provided-with-relief-543974.html|title=Dharmapuri violence: Dalit victims provided with relief - Firstpost|date=3 December 2012|publisher=|access-date=9 December 2016}}</ref> High Court termed the relief insufficient and ordered the state to provide a relief of 7.32 [[crore]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/hc-terms-tn-relief-for-dalits-in-dharmapuri-insufficient/1057600/ |title=HC terms TN relief for Dalits in Dharmapuri insufficient |publisher=Indian Express |date=2013-01-11 |access-date=2013-05-16}}</ref> A fresh PIL was filed asking for effective monitoring of offenses under SC-ST act and transfer the probe to [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]]. The petition was posted along with the other petitions in the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.in.com/news/current-affairs/pil-seeks-effective-monitoring-of-offences-against-scssts-50169314-in-1.html |title=PIL seeks effective monitoring of offences against SCs/STs |publisher=In.com |date= |access-date=2013-05-16}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Tamil Nadu govt then declared solatium to individuals were ready to the tune of 7.32 crore as per court order.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/dharmapuri-violence-tn-govt-tells-hc-solatium-is-ready-113013100630_1.html |title=Dharmapuri violence: TN govt tells HC solatium is ready |newspaper=Business Standard India |publisher=Business Standard |date=2013-01-31 |access-date=2013-05-16|agency=Press Trust of India }}</ref> On 9 February 2013, 91 people including some of whom who were falsely arrested for passing by near the violence area were let off and asked to appear before the CBCID.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article1456013.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213072310/http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article1456013.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 February 2013 |title=91 held for Dharmapuri violence walk free |publisher=The New Indian Express |date=2013-02-09 |access-date=2013-05-16}}</ref> On 29 March, the high court gave bail to 28 accused in the case.<ref>{{cite web|author = |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130329/news-current-affairs/article/hc-grants-bail-28-accused-dharmapuri-caste-violence |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331021523/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130329/news-current-affairs/article/hc-grants-bail-28-accused-dharmapuri-caste-violence |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 March 2013 |title=HC grants bail to 28 accused in Dharmapuri caste violence |publisher=Deccan Chronicle |date=2012-11-07 |access-date=2013-05-16}}</ref> No one was convicted.<ref name=":0" />

== Ilavarasan's death ==
On 15 March 2013, Divya's mother filed a petition in the Madras Court claiming Ilavarasan had kidnapped her daughter. In June, Divya visited her mother and eventually decided to separate from Ilavarasan, which, according to her, was because of the lingering weight of her father's suicide. On 3 July, Divya declared she had "no more feelings" for Ilavarasan. The next day, his body was found on the Coimbatore railway track. Three days after his death, the Superintendent of Police ruled the death to be a suicide. Four days after the incident, the Jaylalitha-led AIADMK government set up a one-man commission led by Justice S. R. Singaravelu to determine the cause of Ilavarasan's death. On 28 June 2014, the police arrested four Dalits from Natham in the case, claiming to have found Naxalite pamphlets in their houses. Villagers claimed they had been forced to dig a grave at the spot where his body was found.<ref name=":1" />
In November 2016, a CID report claimed he committed suicide while drunk, a claim strongly rejected by Ilavarasan's family.<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 21, 2018|first=Shanmughasundaram|last=J.|title=Ilavarasan death: Inquiry panel submits report |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/ilavarasan-death-inquiry-panel-submits-report/articleshow/65480405.cms|access-date=2020-07-10|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=In Tamil Nadu, anatomy of a caste crime: Families devastated by Arrogance killings speak of the scourge|url=https://www.firstpost.com/long-reads/in-tamil-nadu-anatomy-of-a-caste-crime-families-devastated-by-Arrogance-killings-speak-of-the-scourge-7033391.html|access-date=2020-07-10|website=Firstpost|date=August 2019 }}</ref> The Singaravelu commission delivered its report in 2019 claiming his death was caused by him jumping onto the railway tracks in depression, and being hit by a passing train.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-06-09|title=Dalit youth Elavarasan committed suicide: panel|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/dalit-youth-elavarasan-committed-suicide-panel/article27700569.ece|access-date=2020-07-10|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> However, the commission's findings were against contested by Ilavarasan's family and social activists, who continued to suspect Ilavarasan's death was an "Arrogance" killing. In particular, one forensic pathologist who examined his body thought the injuries present were too few to have been causing by hitting a train.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Samuel|first=Sindhiya|date=2019-06-12|title=Chennai: Forensic expert differs with judicial panel's finds|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/120619/chennai-forensic-expert-differs-with-judicial-panels-finds.html|access-date=2020-07-10|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Dalit]]
* [[2004 Kalapatti violence]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dharmapuri violence, 2012}}
[[Category:2010s in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Looting in India]]
[[Category:Dharmapuri district]]
[[Category:Residential building arson attacks in India]]
[[Category:Arson in 2012]]
[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:November 2012 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:November 2012 in India]]
[[Category:2012 crimes in India]]
[[Category:Violence against Dalits in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:2012 fires in Asia]]
[[Category:2012 riots]]

2012 Dharmapuri violence - Revision history

Bihar at 16:36, 11 February 2026