Tamil Nadu Dalit student on way to write exam dragged from bus, assaulted, fingers chopped
Chennai: In a horrific incident, a Dalit student on his way to take an exam in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district was attacked by his classmates who assaulted and chopped his fingers in what his family alleged was a caste-driven assault.
The Class 11 student was travelling on a bus from his residence to his school in Palayamkottai to appear for an exam when he was attacked. The three minors allegedly blocked the bus at a crossing, dragged the young boy out, and severed fingers of his left hand. His father, who tried to intervene, was also attacked and suffered injuries.
The family of the student said the brutal attack stemmed from anger over the role he played in a kabaddi match in which his team defeated opponents who belonged to higher castes, as reported by The Indian Express on Wednesday.
Additionally, the police were investigating whether the attack was connected to an alleged romantic relationship between the student and a girl from a higher caste.
A senior police officer told IE that the student's father initially cited the kabaddi match as the motive for the attack in his complaint. However, a preliminary probe and questioning of the detained minors—all classmates of the victim—suggested that the violence may have been triggered by the student’s alleged relationship with the sister of one of the detained boys, who belongs to the Thevar community.
The boy was first taken to Srivaikundam Government Hospital and then shifted to Tirunelveli Government Hospital, where doctors performed surgery in an attempt to reattach the severed fingers, the report added.
The incident has sparked outrage, with the student’s family and local activists demanding justice. The victim’s uncle, Suresh, stated that they belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community and alleged that others do not want them to progress in life. He called for justice and urged authorities to take the assailants into custody.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
