Complaint against TN temple priest after CCTV footage shows him hitting Dalit guard
This article has been republished from The News Minute without any additions or alterations read the original here.
A Dalit contract security guard of Tiruchendur Sri Subrahmanya Swami Devasthanam temple was hit by the priest of the temple within the premises. He was beaten by the Brahmin man allegedly because he declined to provide the latter the temple keys without the permission of the concerned authorities.
The CCTV footage accessed by TNM shows a group of security guards coming out of a room. Two priests who are standing nearby can be seen intercepting the Dalit security guard and demanding that he provides them the keys but it results in an argument. After a heated exchange of words in front of a police personnel and two other priests, the man identified as Jayamalini Kumar, hits and pushes the security guard. Jayamalini Kumar once again attempts to hit the guard but other people stop him.
The dispute was captured on CCTV. However, fearing that he would lose his job, the Dalit contract worker decided not to register a complaint with the police. Following this, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi’s (VCK) Thoothukudi District Secretary Murasu Thamizhappan has given a complaint to the Tiruchendur Temple Police and has urged them to register an FIR under the Prevention of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.
In the complaint to the Tiruchendur Temple Police on behalf of the Dalit employee, Murasu alleged that Jayamalini Kumar threatened that the security guard will lose his job if he does not give the keys since it was their temple and whatever they say will become the rule. He also hit the security guard. So considering all this, the FIR should be registered under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, the complainant has said.
Speaking to TNM, Murasu said, “I visited the survivor and I spoke to him. He is just scared that he will lose the job and since he has three girl children, he does not want to speak up about the issue. So I have given a complaint to the police but I have still not received the FIR copy.”
Murasu added, “Jayamalini Kumar used to bring influential people to the temple and would help them get easy dharshan. This time also, he wanted the keys for dharshan and the survivor told him to get permission from the concerned authorities. However, the priest started an altercation, hit and pushed him down.”
The survivor declined to give the keys only due to the coronavirus situation, he added.
Murasu said that he will take up the matter with the Tahsildar on Saturday and with the Collector on Monday. “The officials should provide safety at the workplace for the survivor and should ensure job safety.”
The VCK District Secretary also said that the act of the priest shows his casteist mindset. “Jayamalini Kumar’s act clearly shows his casteist mindset. People with such a mind should not be employed as temple priests. The temple is meant for all,” he said.
This is not the first time that the priest, Jayamalini Kumar, has been involved in such a crime. Murasu alleged. “Even last year, Jayamalini Kumar hit a man for using a space of the temple. saying that only upper caste people are allowed to enter the place. He has also used casteist slurs on a lot of people. He is doing all this despite knowing that CCTV cameras are installed. So this should be stopped,” he said.
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Doctor suspended after mix up in surgery performed on child at Kerala govt hospital
Kozhikode (Kerala), May 16: A four-year-old girl in Kerala was wheeled into an operating theatre at the Government Medical College Hospital here on Thursday for the removal of her sixth finger. Hours later, when she emerged from surgery, it was discovered that the operation was performed on the wrong part -- her tongue.
The shocked family of the girl said the error came to light when they found cotton stuffed in the child's mouth post-surgery, prompting them to investigate the matter further.
Upon closer inspection, they found that the surgery was performed on her tongue, not on her hand as intended.
As the issue created an uproar in Kerala, the state government initiated action, suspending Associate Professor Dr Bejohn Johnson, pending an inquiry.
Health Minister Veena George announced the decision to suspend the doctor after receiving a report from the Director of Medical Education, who was asked to conduct an immediate investigation into the incident earlier in the day.
An official statement said the minister has also directed that a detailed inquiry is conducted and further action taken.
George has given strict directives to the hospitals to strictly follow the protocols, it said.
Meanwhile, the family has lodged a complaint with the police, seeking action against those responsible for the grave error.
"No one should have such an experience again at the Medical College Hospital," the child's family said. They said that the child had no issue with her tongue.
The family also said the hospital authorities should take responsibility if there are adverse consequences for the child due to the procedure.
"The hospital authorities informed us that it was a mistake as they had scheduled surgery for two children on the same date," a family member said.
A family member said the doctor had apologised to the family for the error.
Expressing shock over the incident, Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan said it was "serious medical malpractice" and sought strict disciplinary action against those who are responsible for it.
"Presently, the government's actions seem to undo the progress Kerala has achieved in the health sector over the years," he said in a statement here.
Satheesan alleged that the credibility of government hospitals is being questioned due to repeated medical errors.
"Apart from just asking for a report right away, what steps has the health department and the minister taken to address each incident? This isn't the first problem at Kozhikode Medical College," he pointed out, recalling the case of Harshina, who protested after a device got stuck in her stomach during surgery."
