TN: Dalit student targeted again in Nanguneri: Attacked by classmates in 2023, tension due to attack again after two years
Police commissioner Santosh Hadimani claimed it was a “mobile snatching incident” and the student suffered minor injuries. However, the police suspect that the attackers may be linked to a previous attack in August 2023.
Published on: 17 Apr 2025, 8:35 am
Tirunelveli- An 18-year-old Dalit student was again attacked by an unidentified gang on the night of April 16 in Nanguneri in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. The same student was a victim of caste violence by his own classmates in August 2023, after which his family moved to Tirunelveli city for safety reasons.
The student was currently pursuing his first year at a government-aided college in Palayamkottai. The assailants contacted him through a social networking app linked to the LGBTQ community and called him to a secluded spot in Vasanth Nagar (near District Science Centre). When he reached there, the gang of five attacked him and fled after assaulting him. The student informed his friends, following which he was admitted to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital (TVMCH).
Police Commissioner Santosh Hadimani claimed that it was a “mobile snatching incident” and the student suffered minor injuries. However, the police suspect that the attackers may be linked to the previous attack in August 2023. The Palayamkottai police have registered a case and started investigations. Additional security has been deployed at the hospital.
Old case of 2023
In 2023, the same student and his younger sister were attacked by their classmates after they complained of caste discrimination. She suffered serious injuries, following which the family had to shift to Tirunelveli with the help of the district administration for long-term treatment.
Following the incident, an inquiry commission headed by Justice K. Chandru was set up, which suggested measures to prevent caste violence in educational institutions. Dalit rights organisations have strongly condemned the attack and demanded that: The student be provided immediate security. All the accused involved in the previous and new attack be arrested. The state government should take concrete steps to ensure the safety of Dalit students in educational institutions.
