Some of the Scheduled Tribes complained to the District Collector, who went to inquire about the incident of excrement in the drinking water tank near Vellanur in Pudukottai District, that they were not allowed to enter the temple. District Collector Kavita Ramu then took them inside the temple
Pudukottai District Annavasal Panchayat Union Muttukadu Panchayat. There are more than 50 Scheduled Caste people living in Venkai Wayal Street of Thaoyoor village under this municipality.
There is an overhead storage tank with a capacity of ten thousand liters in the Vengai field to supply the people of that area.
In this case, five boys and girls from that area have become ill. They were then taken to Pudukottai Government Medical College Hospital for treatment. The doctors who examined them said that there might be some problem in the drinking water they drank.
When the people of the area climbed the tank on Monday and saw it, it was found that the drinking water was mixed with faeces. The people of the area informed the Kandarvakot Constituency Legislative Assembly Member M. Chinnadurai and the authorities about this.
Accordingly, MLA M. Chinnadurai, Kulathur District Collector Sakthivel, Annavasal Union District Development Officer Anandan and the police visited the spot.
When the health officials camped there and conducted an inspection, it was confirmed that the overhead water tank was contaminated with faeces.
In this regard, a complaint has been lodged with Vellanur police and a case has been registered under five sections.
Further, the police, revenue department and local government department officials are continuing to investigate the incident.
Suspicion on whom?
Speaking to BBC Tamil, a resident of the area who did not want to be named said, “We were without drinking water facility for many years. It was only after a long struggle that the reservoir tank was constructed in 2016-17.
Only adults can open the lid on the top of the tank, and no child is likely to have done it as a prank. So, we suspect that some people are involved in this act,” he said.
Speaking to BBC Tamil, Thayoor Panchayat president Padma said, “Locals say that this is the first time such a disgusting incident has happened in our town.
In the neighboring village, there are frequent disputes between the Arundhatiyar people and the people of other castes and many cases have been registered. But so far there has been no caste problem in our village,” he says.
He also informed that the particular reservoir tank is being used not only by the Scheduled Caste people but also by many people in the town.
In this case, District Collector Kavita Ramu and District Superintendent of Police Vandita Pandey visited the village in person today and investigated and heard the grievances of the people of the area.
At that time, the people of the area demanded that action should be taken against the mysterious persons, some people did not allow them to go to the Ayyanar temple there and they alleged that there was a double mug system in the tea shop.
Later, the District Collector immediately took the scheduled caste people to the temple and worshiped them. He also investigated whether the tea shop there has a double mug system.
The District Collector and the District Superintendent of Police ordered the police to file a case under the Prevention of Atrocities Act against an unidentified person in the area and ordered that action be taken against those who defecate in the overhead water reservoir.
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