Tamil Nadu Dalit leader alleges police engineered attack

Madurai (Tamil Nadu), Nov 3 (IANS) K. Krishnaswamy, leader of Puthiya Thamizhagam, a Dalit party in Tamil Danu, has alleged that Sunday night's attack on him was masterminded by the state police.

'My car was set upon by persons under the instigation of top police officials in this district during my return from Uthapuram, the village that till recently had a wall of shame segregating Dalits and caste Hindus,' Krishnaswamy told reporters here Monday evening.

'Policemen who ought to have accorded protection to me when I was attacked were not only bystanders but were also seen egging my assailants on,' he added.

Party sources said five of its vehicles were damaged in the attack.

A top police official speaking to IANS denied the charge.

'This is an absolutely baseless charge. Upon hearing about the attack on the Dalit leader's convoy, we ensured his exit to a safe place. In fact, his supporters have burnt two buses in southern Tamil Nadu and one in Chennai and stoned two others elsewhere in the state,' the official said.

Krishnaswamy is the second leader within 10 days to accuse the state government of masterminding an assault in southern Tamil Nadu.

Last week, AIADMK leader J. Jayalalitha said that agent provocateurs from the ruling DMK had launched 'a murderous attack' on her in Pasumpon village, 150 km south of here.

Following attacks on government vehicles in neighbouring districts, public transport has been suspended in the neighbouring town Virudhunagar, police said.

Puthiya Thamizhagam sources alleged that over 400 of its workers had been arrested, while police officials said those detained had been released in the evening.