DHARMAPURI: Two women belonging to the Gounder community were arrested under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act here on Friday for following the double tumbler system by serving tea to four dalit women in coconut shells.
The Kambainallur police identified the arrested duo as Chinnathayee, 60, and her daughter-in-law B Dharani, 32, of Marappanaickenpatty.
Police said the duo were imprisoned based on a complaint lodged by G Selli, 50, a dalit woman from Polayampalayam. Selli was working as a farmhand in their agricultural field along with R Sripriya, 38, V Veerammal, 55, and K Mariammal, 60, all residents of Polayampalayam. “On Thursday, the duo served us tea in coconut shells. In the past too, they had served us tea in the same manner,” Selli told TOI.
Sripriya alleged that most of the non-dalits at Marappanaickenpatty were following the double tumbler system. “They also discriminate aganst us in temples and workplaces,”she said.
M Siva, 38, who belongs to the gounder community, denied the allegations and said this issue is just a publicity stunt.
Kambainallur police inspector P Kaliappan said they had conducted an inquiry based on the complaint on Friday itself. “A few locals have confirmed the veracity of the complaint. Chinnathayee and Dharani had served tea to the four dalit women in coconut shells while they were working in their agricultural field.”
Chinnathayee and Dharani were subsequently booked under Section 3(1)(r) of the SC/ST Act, 2015.
The Kambainallur police identified the arrested duo as Chinnathayee, 60, and her daughter-in-law B Dharani, 32, of Marappanaickenpatty.
Police said the duo were imprisoned based on a complaint lodged by G Selli, 50, a dalit woman from Polayampalayam. Selli was working as a farmhand in their agricultural field along with R Sripriya, 38, V Veerammal, 55, and K Mariammal, 60, all residents of Polayampalayam. “On Thursday, the duo served us tea in coconut shells. In the past too, they had served us tea in the same manner,” Selli told TOI.
Sripriya alleged that most of the non-dalits at Marappanaickenpatty were following the double tumbler system. “They also discriminate aganst us in temples and workplaces,”she said.
M Siva, 38, who belongs to the gounder community, denied the allegations and said this issue is just a publicity stunt.
Kambainallur police inspector P Kaliappan said they had conducted an inquiry based on the complaint on Friday itself. “A few locals have confirmed the veracity of the complaint. Chinnathayee and Dharani had served tea to the four dalit women in coconut shells while they were working in their agricultural field.”
Chinnathayee and Dharani were subsequently booked under Section 3(1)(r) of the SC/ST Act, 2015.