Caste dispute erupts in Erode, Tamil Nadu, over a public crematorium. Dalits prostrated themselves at the feet of powerful men after being threatened with a job ban.
Tamil Nadu: A highly inhumane and shameful case of caste discrimination has emerged from Erode district. A massive controversy erupted over the cremation of a 90-year-old man in Perumbali village, located in the Madathupalayam Panchayat near Perundurai. Amidst the protests over the use of the public crematorium, two Scheduled Caste (SC) members were allegedly forced to prostrate themselves at the feet of members of the Backward Class (BC).
Over 100 Scheduled Caste residents reside in Perumbali village. These villagers have long faced difficulties burying the bodies of their loved ones at the local crematorium. Due to strong opposition from the dominant castes, they were often forced to carry the bodies to Thingalur, about five kilometers away. However, after a recent survey, the Tehsildar of Perundurai declared this cremation ground public for all communities.
On October 5th, Chenni, a 90-year-old Scheduled Caste man, died due to age-related ailments. When members of his community took his body to the public cremation ground for burial, they faced strong opposition from members of the backward castes, which soon escalated into a heated argument.
According to the district police, the funeral was conducted under tight security from the Revenue Department and the police. During the altercation between the two communities, the Scheduled Caste members were allegedly threatened and warned not to approach the dominant caste members for any work in the future. Immediately after this threat of not giving them work, two members of the Scheduled Caste community were forced to grab the feet of the members of the BC community.
The police have now taken strict legal action regarding this incident. A case has been registered at the Thingalur police station on the night of October 8, 2026 (Thursday) based on a complaint filed by the Perundurai Revenue Inspector. Two individuals have been charged under stringent sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in connection with this inhumane act, and the police are conducting a thorough investigation.
A video of the incident is rapidly going viral on social media, clearly showing the public humiliation of members of the Dalit community. The video has sparked widespread public outrage and demands for immediate, strict action against the culprits.
- Iswaran, State Coordinator for the Western Region of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), has strongly condemned the incident. He alleged that preventing people from using public crematoriums is a direct violation of the rights of SC community members. He described the threat of denial of work as the most brutal form of caste-based oppression.
Iswaran said that taking advantage of the economic helplessness and helplessness of Dalits and forcing them to bow down at the feet of other communities is a highly condemnable act. The BSP leader also raised serious questions about the role of the police and revenue department officials present at the scene. He demanded strict action against those who opposed the funeral, as well as those officials who completely failed to prevent this insult.
Rajan Chaudhary
Courtesy: Hindi News