Two Dalit Men Allegedly Forced to Prostrate Before Dominant Caste Members in TN

Two Dalit men were allegedly forced to prostrate before members of a dominant caste following a dispute over access to a burial ground in Erode district, police said on Saturday.

The incident occurred in Perumpalli village and came to light after a video purportedly showing the two men falling at the feet of dominant-caste villagers went viral on social media. According to police, the dispute arose on October 5, when members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community brought the body of a 90-year-old man, who had died of age-related ailments, for burial.

However, members of the dominant community allegedly obstructed the burial, triggering a tense confrontation between the two groups. During the argument, the dominant-caste members allegedly threatened the Dalit villagers with being denied future employment in the locality, police said.

Faced with the threat of an economic boycott, two Dalit men were allegedly compelled to fall at the feet of the dominant-caste villagers. Following the incident, Thingalur police registered a case late Thursday night based on a complaint lodged by the Perundurai revenue inspector. Two individuals have been booked under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and an investigation is underway, police said. The burial was eventually carried out under police protection and with the supervision of Revenue Department officials. Sources said the incident appeared to be linked to prevailing caste discrimination in the village.

The viral video has brought the alleged humiliation of the two men into public focus, with the incident highlighting tensions surrounding access to burial grounds and the treatment of members of Scheduled Caste communities. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and the allegations against the two accused.