Dalits compelled to prostrate before dominant caste to bury relative in Erode

On October 5 in Perumpalli, a village in Erode district, Dalit community members tried to use a common burial ground for the funeral of 90-year-old Senni, father of Kaliyappan, after the nearby cemetery in Thingalur ran out of space. Dominant-caste residents, led by Rithuvarman, blocked the procession, insisting Dalits could not be buried there, and the Dalits were forced to kneel and plead for permission while police and revenue officials stood by.

After the family finally buried the body with officials' help, Perundurai tahsildar C Selvakumar sent a preliminary report to district collector S Kandasamy. Erode Superintendent of Police D V Kiran Shruti confirmed that a complaint led Thingalur police to file charges against several dominant-caste villagers under the SC/ST Atrocities Act, with Gobichettipalayam DSP Srinivasan overseeing the probe. The case highlights ongoing caste-based discrimination and raises questions about police responsiveness in protecting vulnerable groups.