Complaint against TN temple priest after CCTV footage shows him hitting Dalit guard
Since the Dalit security guard did not give a complaint fearing that he’d lose his job, a VCK member has done so.
A Dalit contract security guard of Tiruchendur Sri Subrahmanya Swami Devasthanam temple was hit by the priest of the temple within the premises. The VCK has alleged that the guard was beaten by the Brahmin man because he declined to provide the latter the temple keys without the permission of the concerned authorities.
The dispute was captured on CCTV. However, fearing that he would lose his job, the Dalit contract worker reportedly decided not to register a complaint with the police. Following this, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi’s (VCK) Thoothukudi District Secretary Murasu Thamizhappan has given a complaint to the Tiruchendur Temple Police and has urged them to register an FIR under the Prevention of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.
Speaking to TNM, Murasu said, “I visited the survivor and I spoke to him. He is just scared that he will lose the job and since he has three girl children, he does not want to speak up about the issue. So I have given a complaint to the police but I have still not received the FIR copy.”
Murasu added, “Jayamalini Kumar used to bring influential people to the temple and would help them get easy dharshan. This time also, he wanted the keys for dharshan and the survivor told him to get permission from the concerned authorities. However, the priest started an altercation, hit and pushed him down.”
The survivor declined to give the keys only due to the coronavirus situation, he added.
Murasu said that he will take up the matter with the Tahsildar on Saturday and with the Collector on Monday. “The officials should provide safety at the workplace for the survivor and should ensure job safety.”
The VCK District Secretary also said that the act of the priest shows his casteist mindset. “Jayamalini Kumar’s act clearly shows his casteist mindset. People with such a mind should not be employed as temple priests. The temple is meant for all,” he said.
This is not the first time that the priest, Jayamalini Kumar, has been involved in such a ruckus. Murasu alleged. “Even last year, Jayamalini Kumar hit a man for using a space of the temple. saying that only upper caste people are allowed to enter the place. He has also used casteist slurs on a lot of people. He is doing all this despite knowing that CCTV cameras are installed. So this should be stopped,” he said.
