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Special court to try TN caste clash cases

The Tamil Nadu government has decided to set up a special sessions court at Madurai to expeditiously clear cases relating to the recent caste clashes in the southern districts of the state.

The court will exclusively try cases relating to the clashes.

An order to this effect was issued today on the basis of the recommendation of the Madras High Court with which consultations were held.

The government has already transferred all cases relating to the clashes to the crime branch, criminal investigation department of the state police.

Meanwhile, a five-member fact-finding team of the Tamilnadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam has blamed the Sangh Parivar for instigating some leaders of a particular community to indulge in riots against Dalits and the minorities in Ramanathapuram district.

TMMK treasurer S M Baker, who led the team, addressed a press conference after screening an hour-long video clipping of the affected areas at the party headquarters here.

He pointed out that Hindu Munnani leader Rama Gopalan and Vishwa Hindu Parishad secretary general Ashok Singhal had organised a Hindu "renaissance conference" at Rameswaram in August.

He also alleged that activists on their way to attend a conference organised at Pattinamkathan by an extremist group of the majority community started attacking shops belonging to the minorities and Dalits at Paramakkudi, Chatrakkudi, Mohammadiapuram and Ramanathapuram towns.

The TMMK demanded that the CB-CID inquiry ordered by the government should cover the Sangh Parivar's role in instigating the clashes. It also demanded that Tamil Nadu BJP leader L Ganesan be restrained from making inflammatory speeches.

He said the TMMK wanted the compensation to be paid to owners of shops which were damaged in the clashes to be increased to Rs 50 million from Rs 10 million.

UNI

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