DMK leader hurls casteist abuse at Dalit youth for entering temple

Hours after the video surfaced, DMK said that Manickam was being suspended from his party position. Speaking to TNM, local police sources only confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and a case will be registered based on findings, but did not confirm the date of the incident.

However, Kathir, the founder-executive director of the Dalit and Tribal rights organisation, Evidence, told TNM that the incident occurred on January 27. Praveen, who Kathir confirms is 22 years old, had visited the Periya Muthumaariyaman temple, the previous night, on Republic Day. The following morning, Manickam humiliated Praveen in front of his family and even physically manhandled him, forcing the youth to apologise. Kathir adds that in this area of Thirumalaigiri, roughly 8 kilometres from Salem city, there is only one Dalit village, which is surrounded by fifty Vanniyar villages.

Manickam has been booked under IPC sections 506(2)(punishment for criminal intimidation), 294(b)(obscenity), the Prevention of Atrocities Against Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Act and the Protection of Civil Rights Act.