Sundar, 23, was attacked with a sickle for sitting cross-legged in front of his house at Kodangipatti village ... Read More

MADURAI: A man and his son attacked a dalit youth with a sickle for sitting cross-legged in front of his house at Kodangipatti village in Theni on Monday. Police, who identified the victim as Sundar, 23, registered a case against the attackers on Tuesday. A botany graduate scouting for a job, Sundar was staying with his parents who are daily-wage workers.

Around 7pm on Monday, when Sundar was sitting in front of his house and using his mobile phone, M Kannan, a resident of the same locality who was passing by, rebuked him for daring to sit cross-legged in front of him and abused him using his caste name.

The complaint filed by Sundar’s father Selvaraj said Kannan threatened to kill Sundar, went to his house and came back with a sickle, bringing his son along.

Sundar received 10 stitches

As Sundar remained unmoved, Kannan attacked him with the sickle on the head and Manoj assaulted him on the hip and thigh with the blunt portion of the sickle. As Sundar cried out for help, Kannan and Manoj fled.

Sundar was rushed to the Theni Medical College Hospital. His condition is said to be stable. Based on the complaint from Selvaraj, Palanichettypatti police registered a case against the man and his son under IPC Sections 294(b), 324, 506(i) and Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(1)(v) and 3(2) (va) of the Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015. Police are on the lookout for the duo.

A relative of the victim told TOI that Sundar had 10 stitches on the head and injuries on the thigh and hip.

A Kathir, executive director of Evidence, a Maduraibased NGO, said a fact-finding team will be visiting Kodangipatti village to investigate.

