In a shocking act of violence from Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu, a 45-year-old woman was tied to a pole and beaten up, weeks after her son Periyasamy reportedly eloped with Pavali, a nursing student in Trichy. Selvi was tied to an electric pole by Pavali’s father, Kolanji, on Thursday.
Selvi was reportedly abused and beaten by 60-year-old Kolanji, who even cut her hair.
According to reports, Periyasamy and Pavali had been in a relationship but the latter's family did not approve of the relationship. As they were arranging to fix her marriage with another man, Pavali reportedly left home with Periyasamy around a month ago.
On Thursday, Kolanji confronted Selvi as she was on her way back from the ration shop. When she said she was unaware of the whereabouts of her son and his daughter, she was tied to the pole and beaten ruthlessly.
Speaking to News18 Tamil, Selvi said, “When I was sitting at the ration shop to give my card, [Kolanji] said, ‘bring my daughter.’ He pulled my saree off and dragged me on the streets. I was tied to the pole, beaten. He tortured me and tried to rape me. He cut my hair. He did all this injustice. Then the bystanders took mercy upon me and called the police. The police arrived, took a photo of me and then untied me.”
Cuddalore district police confirmed to TNM that Kolanji had been arrested on the same day but was shortly released on bail, citing old age.
He was booked under Sections 294 (obscene acts and songs), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and provisions of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act.
Selvi and her son belong to the Arunthathiyar caste while Kolanji and his daughter Pavali belong to the Paraiyar caste. While both castes fall under the Scheduled Castes category in Tamil Nadu and both face oppression from caste Hindus, the Paraiyars are said to have relatively more education, resources and opportunities than the Arunthathiyars.
(The story was first published on The News Minute and has been republished in an arrangement.)
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