Thirumurugan Gandhi, coordinator of the May 17 Movement, along with 10 persons from Kodiyakarai, on Tuesday condemned the alleged discrimination and caste-based atrocities faced by the residents belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SCs) in the Anna Nagar locality of Kodiyakarai, Nagapattinam district. He was addressing mediapersons at the Chennai Press Club.

“Kodiyakarai has been a site of persistent caste-based violence for its SC residents. They are denied entry into village temples, their jobs are taken away, wedding halls made unavailable, among other things,” he said.

M. Kandasamy, 27, narrated how he was allegedly assaulted by dominant caste members two months ago, and no proper action had been taken by the police. “More than 20 persons from our village have been harassing us, including the former town panchayat president, because of our identity. We are denied basic access to hair salons and tea is served in separate tumblers at the local tea shops. We are going through severe mental suffering in addition to unemployment and physical violence,” said R. Loganathan, 40, a resident of the locality.

V. Tamilarsan, 23, who won a State-level bookfair logo design competition and received an award from School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi at the 2023 Thanjavur Book Festival, said he was denied permission to display a hoarding celebrating the achievement in the locality, a restriction imposed only for its SC residents.

“If the District Collector and police continue to remain negligent about these caste-baste atrocities in Kodiyakarai, we will organise a massive protest,” Mr. Thirumurugan added.

Members of the Tamilaga Makkal Jananayaga Katchi and Viduthalai Tamil Puligal Katchi were present.