Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is forwarding an appeal from the Dalit Human Rights Monitoring (DHRM) on the brutal attack on Dalits settlement in the Kalapatti village of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India, by the dominant caste people on 16 May 2004.
We have attached for you the 10-page document written by the DHRM fact-finding team who visited the place of the incident and met several victims. For more detailed information about this incident, please visit: http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/pdf/kalapatti-fact-findings.pdf
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dalit Human Rights Monitoring (DHRM).
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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25/5/2004
Brutal attack on Dalits settlement in the Kalapatti village of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India, by the upper caste people on 16/5/2004
The People’s Watch -Tamil Nadu and the Dalits Human Rights Monitoring (DHRM) are deeply concerned over the brutal and inhuman attack on a Dalits settlement in the Kalapatti village of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India by the upper caste people of the same village. Nearly 100 Dalits’ houses were attacked by 200 upper caste members using swords and other sharp and deadly weapons. Many Dalit houses were burnt and properties like televisions, grinding machines and cycles were damaged or set on fire.
The perpetrators also killed the cattle of the Dalits and set fire to the cattle. They assaulted women by sexually abusing them trying to pull off their sarees. Nearly 100 Dalit houses were completely burnt to the ground due to these fires. Most of the people sustained serious injuries all over their bodies including their heads, necks, backs, cheeks etc due to the cuts caused by the sharp weapons. The upper caste people also pushed the Dalits to the ground and stamped them with their legs, abusing them using degrading caste names. The dominant caste mob had taken away money and jewels from the Dalit houses as well during the violence.
This brutal attack was carried out for nearly two hours, from 6.30 -8.30 p.m. The Dominant caste mob was so violent that the 8-month year baby boy of Gopal and Nithya, who was sleeping in a cradle, was hit against the wall in a most inhuman manner. Also a 75 year old Muthan s/o Mottaiyappan who was just then returning from work to the village was hit by sharp weapons immediately when he got off from the bus. This innocent old man did not know for what reason he was attacked so brutally. Another old woman named Valliammal (45 years) w/o Kittan was hit on her head and started bleeding badly when she went to rescue her son. Most of the Dalits tried to escape to save their lives. But they were further stopped on their way out and attacked with weapons once again. In this occurrence, 14 Dalits were severely attacked with sharp and deadly weapons, and they sustained terrible injuries, and have been admitted to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital. Today their lives and security are threatened.
In the light of the above occurrence, we would like your solidarity in condemning this brutal attack, which is the result of the horrendous caste system that prevails in India. Find enclosed the findings arrived by our Fact- Finding team, who visited the place of occurrence and met the victims. (Refer to the website address above.)
We request you to demand immediate action by the respective authorities on this violence against the Dalits in India.
Kindly send your appeals to the following people:
1. Justice J. Anand,
National Human Rights Commission
Sardar Patel Bhaven, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi 110 001
INDIA
Tel: +91 11 2 334 0891 / 2334 7065
Fax: +91 11 2 334 0016
E-mail: nhrc@ren.nic.in
2. The Chairperson
The National Commission for Women
4, Deendayal Upadhyay Marg,
New Delhi 110 002
INDIA
E-mail: member_secretary@ncw-india.org
3. Dr. Bizay Sonkar Shastri
Chairman
National Commission for SCs/STs
5th Floor, Loknayak Bhawan,
Khan Market,
New Delhi-110 003
Tel: +91 11 2 4632298 / 2 4620435
E-mail: chairman-ncscst@ncscst.nic.in
4. Shri A.Sathyanarayana
Assistant Director
National SC/ST Commission
National Commission for SCs and STs,
2nd Floor, Block-5, Shastri Bhawan,
Haddows Road, Chennai 600 006
Tamil Nadu Province
INDIA
Tel: +91 44 8276430 / 8271546
5. Justice Thiru S. Thangaraj
The State Human Rights Commission, Tamil Nadu
35, Thiru Vi.Ka.Salai
Royapettai, Chennai 600 034
Tamil Nadu Province
INDIA
Tel: +91 44 28114407
FAX: +91 44 28114404
6. The Chief Minister
State Secretariat
St. George Fort, Chennai 600 009
Tamil Nadu Province
IDNIA
Tel: +91 44 25670132
Fax: +91 44 25671441
E-mail: cmcell@sec.tn.gov
7. Secretary to Chief Minister
Secretary-1 to the chief Minister, Tamil Nadu
Chennai, Tamil Nadu Province
INDIA
Tel: +91 44 25672504(O), 26216699(R)
Fax: +91 44 25671441, 25673323,24892840
E-mail: secy1tocm@tn.gov.in
In Solidarity,
Dr. P. Sekar
Programme Co-ordinator
Dalit Human Rights Monitoring (DHRM)
People’s Watch – Tamil Nadu
National Co-ordination Office:
No.6, Vallabhai Road, Chokkikulam,
Madurai – 625 002.
Tel: +91 452 2531874 / 2539520
Fax: +91 452 2531874
Mobile: +91 98421 68510
E-mail: dhrm@pwtn.org, dhrm@dishnetdsl.net
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Please also send a letter to:
Mr. Doudou Diene
Special Rapporteur on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
Room 4-041
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais Wilson,
Rue des Paquis 52, Geneva
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 9179271
Fax: +41 22 9179050
Mr. Miloon Kothari
Special Rapporteur on adequate housing
Room 4-066
UNOG-OHCHR, CH-1211, Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9010
E-mail: rhada.hcr@unog.ch
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
