Caste flare-up the trigger: Report

CHENNAI: The Action Committee Against the Paramakudi Firing has concluded that the firing was unwarranted and expressed apprehension that a number of facts were being concealed in the matter. In that light, it has called on the Centre to immediately order a CBI probe into the violence that broke out in Paramakudi on September 11.Action Committee Against the Paramakudi Firing, an umbrella organisation comprising a number of political and social groups, on Saturday released a report on the incident following detailed research and site visits by a jury of eminent persons. The 500-page report contains testimonials, witness accounts, victim accounts, police reports, FIRs, affidavits, political reactions and the jury’s own observations.“This is a bad case of state violence against the people in Paramakudi. Those who were affected were treated callously by the men in uniform. We strongly recommend that the case be handed over to the CBI. We also recommend that a special court be set up in Paramakudi to try the case and also make it convenient for the victims to seek redress,” said jury member Vasanthi Devi, former Vice Chancellor of the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University.The report deduces in no uncertain terms that the violence was motivated by the divisions of caste and was incited by some even as members of the SC community were peacefully on their way to pay their respects to SC icon Immanuel Sekaran. ”The report demonstrates that the state machinery is stuck in the hands of those crazed by caste,” said human rights activist Thiagu, also a jury member.The report raised a number of questions in the police’s version of events, like why a fire engine standing nearby or police personnel on location did nothing to douse the burning fire truck and riot control vehicle. It expressed doubts over whether the vehicles had been set ablaze by the authorities to justify the caste-motivated shooting.Leaders from across the political spectrum spoke after the release of the report, affirming the findings. The DMK, CPM, CPI, VCK, CPI(ML) and PMK were among the parties that took the stage. They were joined by representatives from various other social and political organisations.