A special court in Pudukkottai accepted the CB-CID report stating that three Dalits were responsible for contaminating drinking water with human Waste. The report ruled out any caste-related motive in the incident. As a result, the case was transferred to a different court for further proceedings. The ruling dismisses allegations of caste-based atrocity in the matter.
Chennai: Two years after the outrage in Tamil Nadu over the discovery of human Waste mixed with drinking water in a neighborhood predominantly inhabited by a Scheduled Caste, a special court has transferred the case to a regular court.
The special court in Pudukkottai, which deals with cases under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, accepted the report from the Tamil Nadu police’s CB CID wing, which implicated three Dalits in the incident and ruled out any caste-based atrocity.
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The report stated that the three accused, one of whom is a police officer, carried out the act in retaliation for the suspension of a tank operator by a local panchayat chief.
Notably, the accused belong to the same caste as the victims of the contaminated water.
In December 2022, numerous children in Vengavayil village, Pudukkottai district, fell ill with vomiting and diarrhea, which was later linked to human excreta being dumped into an overhead tank serving the Arunthathiyar community.
This incident led to widespread outrage and allegations of caste-based violence. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin remarked that the event highlighted the ongoing existence of caste discrimination and untouchability in certain areas, promising strict action.
Due to the sensitive nature of the case, it was assigned to the CB CID. The village gained attention during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when residents threatened to boycott the polls over delays in apprehending those responsible for the incident.
The findings of the investigation have since incited protests, with some groups alleging a cover-up. Among these is the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), an ally of the ruling DMK, which has demanded that the inquiry be transferred to the CBI.
However, the court rejected a plea from the party to disregard the CB CID’s chargesheet.
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