D. Karthikeyan

Date:07/05/2008

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/07/stories/2008050757930100.htm

MADURAI: A section of the wall that separated a Dalit colony from caste Hindus for nearly two decades at Uthapuram village in Madurai district was demolished on Tuesday by the district administration amidst tight security.

After talks and a thorough inspection, the administration identified the 150-metre stretch of the 600-metre-long wall that blocked the common pathway and denied Dalits access to areas of common usage.

It was brought down on the instruction of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. A temporary gravel road was laid at the demolished portion to link with the pathway. Authorities have promised to convert it into a cement road.

The wall was built after a caste clash in 1989 on the basis of an agreement among leaders of the two communities. Prior to this, the section was being used as a common entrance to the village by members of all castes.

The Hindu was the first to report on the electrification of the wall on April 17, 2008. Following the publication of the report, the district authorities disconnected power supply to the wall (The Hindu, April 18). The Communist Party of India (Marxist) had threatened to launch an agitation if the wall was not brought down by May-end.

On Tuesday, 1,500 police personnel from the southern districts, including those from the Swift Action Force (SAF), were deployed while the demolition was on. Uthapuram, where Dalits outnumber caste Hindus, has a 75-year-long history of caste animosity.

District Collector S.S. Jawahar told The Hindu that with the demolition, Dalits could access common areas. The district administration solved the over two-decade-old dispute in two weeks. The action was taken under the guidance of Mr. Karunanidhi and senior officials. It was not against any particular group, but against discrimination.

Mr. Jawahar said the administration would ensure peace and amity among the castes. Issues like bus shelter, drainage and removal of encroachments would be taken up soon.

He wanted the public, media and leaders of political parties to lend support for bringing about a harmonious relationship among all sections. Mr. Jawahar appealed to caste Hindus to take back their ration cards they had surrendered at the Collectorate on Monday.

The Dalits in the village felt happy over the demolition and urged the government to fulfil their other demands.

Caste Hindus vacated their houses and went to the nearby Thalayuthu hill, four kilometres away from Uthapuram, as a mark of protest against the move to demolish the wall. The administration is expected to hold talks to get them back to the village. In the Assembly, the Chief Minister commended members of the two communities for reaching an agreement on demolishing a portion of the wall.

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