TN officials issue eviction notice over ‘Untouchability Wall’ preventing access to Dalits in Karur

With the ‘untouchability wall’ erected recently by a caste-Hindu community in Karur to prevent access to Dalits becoming a bone of contention, authorities on Thursday issued an eviction notice for its removal from government land.

This followed objections and concerns raised by Dalits of the Aruthathiyar (cobbler) community over the wall built on 1.25 acres of government poramboke land at Muthuladampatti, located within the Corporation limits and barely one km from the District Collectorate.

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The 10-foot-high wall, measuring about 200 feet in length, was built all of a sudden about three weeks ago by the caste Hindus belonging to the dominant Thottiya Naicker community despite opposition from the Dalits and warnings from the district administration during a peace meeting. It was constructed by collecting money from each caste Hindu family. While the Dalits, residing in two settlements at Muthaladampatti, alleged that the wall was intended to scuttle their free access, the Thottiya Naickers maintained that it was to ensure security from anti-social elements as well as drug and alcohol addicts misusing the area and posing a threat to the womenfolk.

While the Thottiya Naickers account for 200 families, there are only 40 Dalit households. The numerically strong caste Hindus have been enjoying informal possession of the government poramboke land, where a small temple and a stage for community events have been established. They are said to have resisted the plea of the Dalits to earmark a portion of the land for a drama stage and a toilet for them. The administration, too, had left it unaddressed, it is said. The Dalits also allege that they can enter the caste Hindu locality barefoot, and not while wearing footwear.

Confirming that the eviction notice to the Thottiya Naicker community has been issued to remove the structure, Karur Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Mohammed Byzal said, “During the peace meeting on July 29, following a complaint by the Dalits, the District administration had warned against carrying out any construction on the land. The construction of the wall on government land is a violation.” Earlier, the RDO, accompanied by other officials, had carried out an inspection at the direction of District Collector M Thangavel.

Residents of the Thottiya Naicker community have denied allegations of caste discrimination in constructing the wall and claimed that the land has been under their possession for decades. Western Tamil Nadu, where the Arunthathiyars are concentrated, is a region prone to caste discrimination and atrocities despite rapid industrialisation.