Ahad Sabri at 20:23, 11 December 2025

2025-12-11T20:23:23Z

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{{short description|Violence against Dalit community}}
The '''2015 Seshasamudram violence''' also known as the '''Villupuram violence''' refers to the violence that took place on 15 August 2015 in Seshasmudram, a village in [[Sankarapuram Taluk]], [[Viluppuram district|Viluppuram District]], [[Tamil Nadu]]. A crowd of 500 dominant-caste villagers attacked a Dalit colony over a dispute over a procession of a temple car. 15 houses belonging to the [[Dalit]]s were burnt down and 40 Dalits were injured during the violence.

== Background ==
In the village, there were 2000 [[Vanniyar]] families and 75 Dalit families.<ref name="frontlineNOT">{{Cite web|last=RAJASEKARAN|first=ILANGOVAN|title=Night of terror|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/social-issues/night-of-terror/article7603490.ece|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Frontline|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4"/>

=== Festival tensions ===
The Dalits were denied entry to at least 5 temples controlled by the Vanniyars.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Get Wired 18/8: MoEF Bypassing SC, Special Parl. Session, IndiGo's Order, and More|url=https://thewire.in/economy/get-wired-moef-bypassing-sc-special-parl-session-indigos-order-and-more|access-date=2020-12-27|website=The Wire}}</ref> The Dalit community constructed a [[Mariamman]] temple in the village and for four years, they were refused permission to conduct a procession by the local administration as it was opposed by the Vanniyars and that it could also cause tensions in the village.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-08-18|title=Dalit houses torched for taking out procession in Tamil Nadu village: How the conflict unfolded|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/dalit-houses-torched-taking-procession-tamil-nadu-village-conflict-unfolded-2396828.html|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Firstpost}}</ref><ref name=":4" />

The Dalits threatened to accept [[Buddhism]] if they were not permitted to take the car out in 2015. Peace committee meetings were held by the Villupuram district administration, attended by a 100 members from Vanniyar community and 5 members from the Dalit colony, and it was agreed that Dalits will be allowed to conduct the procession.<ref name="frontlineNOT" />

In the year 2015, The Dalit colony's Mariamman temple car festival was planned for August 16. Following 2012, when the temple car was constructed, policemen have been posted regularly in the village. While the whole Dalit colony was involved in the arrangements, the Vanniyars, mainly young people, departed for the neighboring town of [[Kallakurichi]], where [[Anbumani Ramadoss]], one of the leaders of the [[Pattali Makkal Katchi]] (PMK), was taking part in a demonstration.<ref name="frontlineNOT" />

== Attacks ==
The attacks began at 8:30 pm on August 15 on Independence day.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=40 Hurt, 15 Houses, Temple Car Torched in Villupuram|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2015/aug/16/40-hurt-15-houses-temple-car-torched-in-villupuram-800030.html|access-date=2020-12-27|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> Police stated that even after the peace negotiations, a group of Vanniyars dug up the route to block the temple car procession. The mob of 100, including women, began hurling stones on the police when they tried to stop the mob and threw petrol bombs at the temple vehicle, burning it.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sivaraman|first=R.|date=2015-08-17|title=70 held for burning Dalit houses in Villupuram|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/70-held-for-burning-dalit-houses-in-villupuram/article7548443.ece|access-date=2020-12-27|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2015-08-18|title=Temple procession row: TN police nab 75 for torching Dalit houses|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/temple-procession-row-tn-police-nab-75-for-torching-dalit-houses/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> Police claimed that this attack was made by the Vanniyars returning from the demonstration held by the PMK.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-08-17|title=Tamil Nadu: Vanniyars attack Dalit procession, torch huts|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/tamil-nadu-vanniyars-attack-dalit-procession-torch-huts/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

A mob of 500 people armed with [[Crowbar (tool)|crow bars]], stones, sticks, sickles and petrol filled bottles reached the Dalit colony.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dalits Too Resorted to Violence: Witness|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2015/aug/17/dalits-too-resorted-to-violence-witness-800486.html|access-date=2020-12-27|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> They took positions on the rooftops watching over the colony at the same time. By vandalizing the transformer in the area, the mob had turned off power supply. When the lights went out, they hurled petrol bombs and stones from the rooftops into the colony. Another party stormed in the colony and quickly smashed the tube lights and the bulbs.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Naig|first=Udhav|date=2015-08-23|title=A promise ends in a riot|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/state-view-a-promise-ends-in-a-riot-in-tamil-nadu/article10329255.ece|access-date=2020-12-27|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Then they burned huts and properties after discovering nobody there. Then the group attacked the badly outnumbered policemen, who attempted to stop the attackers. The police team had relocated the Dalits to the fields and told them to stay there before backup reached the village. Some of the policemen also suffered injuries.<ref name="frontlineNOT" /> At least 15 houses were burned down and about 40 Dalit people were injured.<ref name=":0" /> 8 police officers and 3 village assistants were also injured.<ref name="Key Accused in Caste Riots Held">{{Cite web|title=Key Accused in Caste Riots Held|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2015/sep/04/key-accused-in-caste-riots-held-809472.html|access-date=2020-12-27|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> Vehicles of Dalit families were also burned by the mob. The police discovered that half a dozen goats were killed. During their attack the mob also shouted "Burn them! No [[Paraiyar]]s should be let off".<ref name=":1" /> Many of the Dalits lost money, jewels and their bona fide records.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Naig|first=Udhav|date=2015-08-20|title=Seshasamudram village still shaken|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/seshasamudram-village-still-shaken/article7559558.ece|access-date=2020-12-27|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

The police had to shoot in the air several times to enter, as the Vanniyars blocked the policemen to go through their area to enter the Dalit colony. It eventually took a rain that lasted almost an hour to extinguish the fire.<ref name=":0" />

In September 2015, a house belonging to a Vanniyar were set on fire.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-09-06|title=Caste-tempers rise in Villupuram yet again as another house set on fire|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/caste-tempers-rise-villupuram-yet-again-another-house-set-fire-34045|access-date=2020-12-27|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref> A local source said it was an accident, not an act of retribution.<ref name=":2"/> Later, 2 Dalit houses were again torched in September with petrol bombs, the victims claimed that their houses were burned when they spoke to the media about the recent violence.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Team|first=DNA Web|date=2015-09-02|title=Tamil Nadu village tense after 2 Dalit houses burnt|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-tamil-nadu-village-tense-after-2-dalit-houses-burnt-2121210|access-date=2020-12-27|website=DNA India|language=en}}</ref>

== Investigations ==
A human rights organization based in Madurai named Evidence, claimed a number of Dalit women had been abused in the attack. They had been stripped and told to run away, abandoning their children in the house. The riots which started on 8:30pm was reported to have continued until early in the morning of the next day.<ref name=":1" />

As per police reports and residents, in the countdown of the 2012 panchayat election, a Vanniyar contestant named Subramanian pledged to help the Dalit community to buy a temple car in an effort to attract the Dalit vote. He helped them buy the car after winning by collecting funds and using the money of the Dalits. Vanniyars objected taking the car through the streets where they lived.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kalyanaraman|first=M.|date=Aug 25, 2015|title=Villupuram riot, a flashpoint in caste build-up {{!}} Chennai News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Villupuram-riot-a-flashpoint-in-caste-build-up/articleshow/48661771.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725192402/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Villupuram-riot-a-flashpoint-in-caste-build-up/articleshow/48661771.cms |archive-date=2016-07-25 |access-date=2020-12-27|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> Local officials refused permission for the procession for the past three years as they were unable to solve the issue. The district magistrate granted permission on 2015 to the Dalits being unable to withhold approval forever.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Sridharan|first=Janani|title=How an attack on Dalits on Independence Day reveals the cynical caste politics in Tamil Nadu|url=http://scroll.in/article/750867/how-an-attack-on-dalits-on-independence-day-reveals-the-cynical-caste-politics-in-tamil-nadu|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US}}</ref>

After the violence, the police arrested and jailed Subramanian for being responsible for the riots and jailed him in [[Vellore Central Prison|Vellore central prison]]. Local news sources stated that Subramanian of the [[Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam]] disrupted the villagers unity by inciting a caste clash between both the communities. Subramani confessed that other than him, over 100 Vanniyar men were preparing an attack together.<ref name="Key Accused in Caste Riots Held"/><ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-09-04|title=DMDK politician arrested for Villupuram Dalit colony riots|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/dmdk-politician-arrested-villupuram-dalit-colony-riots-33979|access-date=2020-12-27|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref>

== Arrests ==
85 people, including 18 women and seven minors, all from the Vanniyar caste, were detained by police.<ref name="frontlineNOT" /> Two more people were later arrested.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Villupuram Retd HM, Ryot Held in Riots Case|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2015/aug/21/villupuram-retd-hm-ryot-held-in-riots-case-802620.html|access-date=2020-12-27|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

== Reactions ==
The PMK founder, [[S. Ramadoss]], accused the police for the violence.<ref name="frontlineNOT" />

The [[Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front]] asked the NHRC to start using its legal power to prosecute those responsible for the violence.<ref>{{Cite web|last=kumar|first=pradeep|date=2015-08-18|title=So much violence for five feet of road|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150818/nation-current-affairs/article/so-much-violence-five-feet-road|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en}}</ref>

Chief Minister [[J Jayalalithaa]] provided financial aid of ₹ 50,000 each to 8 police officers and 3 village assistants who were injured.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Seshasamudram Violence: Jaya Grants Rs 50k Aid to 8 Cops, 3 Village Assistants|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2015/aug/17/seshasamudram-violence-jaya-grants-rs-50k-aid-to-8-cops-3-village-assistants-800785.html|access-date=2020-12-27|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

Over 1000 [[Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi]] (VCK) members blocked the Tiruvannamalai Road at [[Sankarapuram]], demanding action against those responsible for the violence.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Another Hut Afire; Riot-hit Village Limps to Normalcy|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2015/aug/18/another-hut-afire-riot-hit-village-limps-to-normalcy-800946.html|access-date=2020-12-27|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

[[Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (MDMK) chief [[Vaiko]] denounced the burning of the Dalits Temple Car and Houses and pleaded to the members of both groups to live in peace.<ref name=":2" />

The president of [[Puthiya Tamilagam]] party, [[K. Krishnasamy]] has demanded tough action against those involved in the violence.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|date=2015-08-19|title=Krishnasamy condemns Sankarapuram violence|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/krishnasamy-condemns-sankarapuram-violence/article7555760.ece|access-date=2020-12-27|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

The [[Manithaneya Makkal Katchi]] appealed to all members of both the communities to aim for harmony.<ref name=":3" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://frontline.thehindu.com/social-issues/night-of-terror/article7603490.ece Night of terror - ''Frontline TheHindu'']

[[Category:Crime in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Social history of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Caste-related violence in India]]
[[Category:Violence against Dalits in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:August 2015 in India]]

2015 Seshasamudram violence - Revision history

Ahad Sabri at 20:23, 11 December 2025