Tamil Nadu: Dalit sets himself on fire over sub-quota for Arunthathiyars

TIRUPUR: A Dalit outfit’s functionary committed self-immolation in Tirupur to press the demand for six per cent ‘internal reservation (sub-quota)’ for the Arunthathiyar community, a Dalits sub-sect. It is the second such incident in Tirupur over the same issue. Police said that Maheswaran, 35, resident of Vavipalayam near Tirupur, a hosiery unit worker actively engaged in Dalit movements, had set himself on fire on Tuesday night after dousing himself with petrol at Park Road junction. As the tragic incident happened past midnight and nobody was in the vicinity then, the activist succumbed to his burn injuries on the spot.

Police found the charred remains of the Dalit activist early on Wednesday and sent his body to the Tirupur government hospital for post-mortem. Police also found a suicide note at the spot. According to the purported suicide note, the activist took the extreme step in demanding six per cent internal reservation for the ‘Arunthathiyar community’. He was inspired by the similar incident, in which, the Aadhi Thamilar Peravai functionary Neelavendhan, had committed suicide at same spot few years ago by self-immolation. The Tirupur North police have registered a case and are investigating.