ALAPPUZHA: In the wake of 23 Dalit families residing in a relief camp at Pallippad grama panchayat here alleging that they faced caste discrimination , district collector S Suhas ordered a probe into the incident.

Speaking to TOI, Suhas said that tahasildar Karthikapally and district police chief have been directed to probe the incident and submit reports soon.

As many as 56 members of 23 Dalit families under the aegis of the All Kerala Pulayar Mahasabha lodged a complaint with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the district collector saying that members of the Christian community had humiliated them at the relief camp functioning at Anjilimoodu L.P. School.

Tinu Vijayan, a member of Dalit community residing in the relief camp told TOI that as many as 27 families belonging to Christian community moved to another camp from their camp on Saturday as they did not like to share space and food prepared by the Dalit community members.

"We have left our homes and came to the relief camp on July 18 following flood water of Achankovil river inundated our houses. The camp consisted of 23 Dalit families and 28 Christian families. However, the members of Christian families asked us to give their share of food materials and they would cook the food themselves. However, we told them we could cook the food together and share the space of the camp. However, they were not ready to listen to our words. But we told them that it was not fair to separate the food materials which was given to one camp. Following this, they quarreled with us. Some of them lodged complaint with the police against us alleging that we misbehaved with the girls of their community," he said.

"Following the request of Christian community members, the village officer and our ward member arranged another camp for them on Saturday and they moved from our camp. It is a big humiliation for us and it is very painful to all the Dalit members. We are also humans. So we have registered protest against the decision, " he said.

However, a member of Christian community on condition of anonymity, said that they have moved to another camp following some members of the school camp took the videos of our women and girls. `"We questioned it and it ended in quarrel. Following it, we decided to move to another camp," she said.

The issue became controversial when Hindu Aikya Vedi members led by district vice president Sreyas S Nampoothiri visited the camp and staged a protest by having food with the Dalit community members in the relief camp.

"Though opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, who visited the camp on Friday was not ready to listen to our complaint. The panchayat authorities were also not ready to listen to our problems. So we have lodged complaint with chief minister, district collector, State Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission, tahsildar and village officer,” said Dalit members of the camp.

Karthikappally tahsildar P N Sanu said that there were 51 families in the relief camp arranged at Anjilimoodu L.P. School. "However, some issues took place in between two groups. I don’t think those issues were based on caste. I think the issues developed based on personal enmity. Though we tried to settle the issue, they were not ready for any compromise. So we have shifted the members of Christian community to another place to avoid altercations. But it is not an issue related to caste discrimination,” he said.

T K Sujatha, the Pallippad grama panchayat vice president and the local ward member said that they have shifted 28 Christian community members to another camp following they complained of space constraints and shortage of bath room facilities. "There is no caste discrimination and some people are trying to create problems for their political gains,’’ she said.

