2013 Marakkanam violence was a violent clash between Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) cadres and Dalit villagers at Marakkanam in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, in which two people were killed.[1]
Background
The incident took place on 25 April 2013, the day PMK and Vanniar sangam organised a youth festival in Mamallapuram near Chennai.[2] Police said PMK cadres, who were on their way to attend the youth conference at Mahaballipuram, stopped near a bus stop at a Dalit village near Marakanam and consumed alcohol. When a few villagers questioned them, the PMK men assaulted the villagers and fled the scene.[3] As a result two PMK cadres named Selvaraj and Vivek were killed.[1]
Aftermath
PMK founder S Ramadoss and party president G K Mani were arrested on 30 April in Villupuram who want the probe in the incident.[4] This arrest spread the violence across the Tamil Nadu PMK cadres stoned the buses to protest against the arrest of their leaders.[5] In the districts of Thiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Vellore and Kanchipuram, some 1,601 buses were not operated even during day time due to violence.[6] The violence took place till the release of S Ramadoss who was released on 11 May from Tiruchirapalli Central Prison.[7] Totally, 853 buses were damaged and 165 trees were cut down during violence.[6] The Government of Tamil Nadu threatened to ban PMK party over the violence.[8]
Court proceedings and Conviction
Marakanam police filed case against 1,512 persons from both sides and inquired further. Initially it was said by police that Selvaraj was killed by accident but after post mortem reports revealed stab injuries on his body, the police changed the accident case to murder case.[9] On 9 May 2013, the CB-CID officials registered a murder case against six Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) cadres for brutally attacking PMK cadre Selvaraj. On 3 February 2016 sessions court in Tindivanam pronounced the judgement that all the six accused VCK cadres were found guilty and convicted to life imprisonment for brutally killing Selvaraj. The judge pronounced the crime to be ‘rarest of rare’ while awarding the life sentence. The case on other person killed named Vivek is still under proceedings.[10][11][12][13]
See also
- 1957 Ramnad riots
- Caste-related violence in India
- Dalit
- Manjolai Labourers Massacre
- Paramakudi Riots
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Two killed after violence in Marakkanam near Chennai(2013-04-26).
- ↑ CM holds PMK, Vanniyar Sangam responsible for Marakkanam riots(2013-04-29).
- ↑ Two killed after violence in Marakkanam near Chennai(2013-04-26).
- ↑ Ramadoss, Mani held for demonstration bid(2013-04-30).
- ↑ Violence continues in TN as PMK protests Ramadoss arrest(2013-05-03).
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 853 buses damaged, 165 trees cut down during PMK violence: Jayalalithaa(2013-05-13).
- ↑ PMK founder S Ramadoss released from prison, slams Jayalalithaa govt(2013-05-11).
- ↑ Jayalalithaa threatens to ban Ramadoss' PMK over Marakkanam violence(2013-05-13).
- ↑ 6 held for killing PMK man during Marakkanam clash | Chennai News - Times of India, Sep 7, A. Selvaraj | TNN | Updated. The Times of India. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
- ↑ 3-yrs on, 6 VCK Cadre Sentenced to Life. The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
- ↑ Marakkanam violence: Six VCK cadres get jail term for murder of PMK man | Chennai News - Times of India, Feb 3, B. Sivakumar | TNN | Updated. The Times of India. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
- ↑ PMK cadre murder: 6 VCK men get life, 100010509524078. dtNext.in(2016-02-04). Retrieved 2020-04-08.
- ↑ Tamil Nadu: Six get life for murder and rioting in 2013 PMK-VCK clash. www.thenewsminute.com. Retrieved 2020-04-08.