The survivor of the 2023 violent caste crime in Nanguneri, Chinnadurai (19), was attacked again by unknown persons on Wednesday, April 16.
According to the family, the victim was lured through a dating app near a hillside, where he was allegedly attacked by a group. He sustained minor injuries and has been hospitalised at the Tirunelveli Government Hospital.
"The suspects tried to snatch his phone. In his attempt to save the phone, the teen suffered a minor injury," Tirunelveli police commissioner Santosh Hadimani told TNIE.
Tirunelveli Municipal Deputy Commissioner Shantharam and Assistant Commissioner Suresh are investigating the attack. Meanwhile, heavy security has been deployed outside the Government Hospital.
The police, in a statement released late on Wednesday night, said that Chinnadurai had gone to meet a friend he knew through social media when he was allegedly attacked by some unidentified persons who snatched his phone. He sustained minor injuries and was discharged the same night. However, an investigation is underway to find the perpetrators and why they attacked Chinnadurai.
Chinnadurai and his then 13-year-old sister, belonging to the Paraiyar community (Scheduled Caste), were attacked by six minors on August 9, 2023, with machetes. The attackers, who were his schoolmates, belonged to the Maravar community (Most Backward Class). He was constantly bullied in school by classmates from oppressor castes for excelling in his studies.
The group of school students barged into Chinnadurai’s house and attacked him brutally. When his sister came in hearing the mayhem, she was also hacked.
After recovering from the brutal assault, Chinnadurai scored 78% marks in his class 12 public examination and was enrolled in a private college.
Following this, the Tamil Nadu state government formed a one-man committee headed by retired High Court judge K Chandru to frame guidelines to avoid violence based on caste and community among college and school students.
The committee submitted its report in 2024, stating that caste differences are pervasive, extending “beyond the confines of educational settings and permeating society at large.” The report also said that merely addressing the problem in schools is insufficient and called for a comprehensive approach to achieve “a lasting solution and a casteless society.”
Also Read: Brutal attack on two Dalit teens exposes caste fanaticism among school kids in TN