Revenue officials order Caste Hindus to remove alleged 'untouchability wall' in TN's Karur
Karur: Revenue authorities in Karur district on Thursday issued an eviction notice for the removal of an alleged "untouchability wall" constructed by members of a Caste Hindu community on a 1.25-acre stretch of government poramboke land in Muthuladampatti.
The action follows complaints by Dalit residents who alleged that the wall was erected to block their access to the area, raising concerns of caste-based discrimination. Officials stated that the notice was issued to prevent any communal tensions or untoward incidents, The New Indian Express reported.
Karur Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) M Mohammed Byzal confirmed that he had served an eviction notice to members of the Thottia Naicker community, who built a wall using concrete blocks, allegedly obstructing access for the Arunthathiyar community.
Karur Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) M Mohammed Byzal confirmed that an eviction notice was served to members of the Thottia Naicker community, who constructed the wall using concrete blocks. The structure allegedly obstructs access for the Arunthathiyar community, a Scheduled Caste group.
“Despite being warned during a peace meeting held on July 29, 2025, convened following a complaint lodged by Dalit residents on July 11, that members of a particular community went ahead and constructed the wall on government poramboke land, which is a violation of norms. Hence, we have issued a notice for its immediate removal,” TNIE quoted RDO Byzal as saying.
Muthuladampatti, located within Karur city limits, is home to around 200 families from the Caste Hindu community and about 45 Dalit families. The disputed land, informally under the control of the Caste Hindus for years, houses a temple and a drama stage. Dalits in the locality have reportedly been demanding a portion of this land to build a drama stage and public toilet—requests that have gone unfulfilled for years.
Members of the Caste Hindu community suddenly began constructing a 200-foot-long, 10-foot-high wall separating the two settlements. Dalit residents described the structure as a “wall of untouchability,” accusing the builders of deliberately attempting to segregate communities and limit their movement. They also claimed the wall was financed through contributions from every Caste Hindu household in the area, added the report.
However, members of the Caste Hindu community have denied the allegations, stating that the wall was intended to protect the land they have occupied for decades and to prevent it from being used for other purposes, such as the construction of a stage or toilet.
Following orders from District Collector M Thangavel, RDO Byzal conducted an inquiry and formally issued the eviction notice, instructing the immediate removal of the structure.
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Rain wreaks havoc in Bengaluru, kills 10
Bengaluru (PTI):The rains in Bengaluru on Wednesday evening wreaked havoc, killing 10 people, authorities said.
Heavy rains coupled with a hailstorm and gusty winds uprooted trees, flooded many key stretches and threw traffic out of gear, they said on Thursday.
Large parts of the city witnessed sudden, intense rainfall for nearly an hour, bringing down trees and electric poles, crushing parked vehicles and inundating low-lying areas, while several roads were rendered impassable, severely disrupting vehicular movement during peak hours.
Seven people, including a six-year-old girl, were killed when a compound wall of the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital collapsed amid the downpour.
Among the deceased, two were from Kerala who were on a study tour. They had taken shelter near the wall when it gave way, they said.
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In another incident, a 35-year-old man, identified as Raghu, died of electrocution on Bannerghatta Road near Vega City Mall.
In a separate case in Yarab Nagar, a student, Syed Sufiyan died after coming into contact with a live electric wire while attempting to park his motorcycle during the rain, police said.
One more fatality was reported from Chamarajapet, where Manjunath died on the spot after a cement block fell and pierced through the roof of a house during the storm.
The sudden spell of rain left a trail of destruction across the city.
“So far, 10 people have died due to rain-related incidents in Bengaluru,” police said, attributing the deaths to wall collapse, electrocution and structural damage triggered by the storm.
Civic authorities said at least 87 trees were uprooted and 131 branches snapped across the city, disrupting daily life.
Of these, 60 trees and 98 branches had been cleared, while restoration work was ongoing.
Several cars and two-wheelers parked along roadsides were crushed under fallen trees.
Key junctions and underpasses were waterlogged, with the KR Circle underpass completely submerged, forcing police to barricade the stretch due to lack of drainage.
Fallen branches and stalled vehicles further worsened traffic congestion, leaving commuters stranded for hours.
Officials said buildings suffered partial damage in several areas, while the sudden and unanticipated nature of the storm caught many residents off guard. Authorities have issued a rain alert for the next three days.
