Madurai: Viduthalai Chiruthigal Katchi (VCK) General Secretary and MP Thol Thirumavalavan has urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to declare Madurai as a caste violence-prone district and ensure stringent implementation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. His appeal comes in the wake of the death of Ramakrishnan, a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) conductor, whose demise has sparked allegations of foul play.
Speaking to reporters at the Government Rajaji Hospital on Friday after paying respects to Ramakrishnan, Thirumavalavan expressed concern over what he described as repeated lapses in the enforcement of the SC/ST Act in the state. He highlighted that official statistics place Madurai district first in caste-related violence, yet, he alleged, the police have failed to register cases in a majority of incidents.
The VCK chief pressed for the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe caste-related murders and violence, warning that his party would approach the Madras High Court if necessary. He also questioned the police’s version that Ramakrishnan’s death was a case of suicide.
“According to his family, Ramakrishnan was under threat because of his participation in the TNSTC employees’ union elections. They are firm that he had no reason to take his own life,” Thirumavalavan said.
Ramakrishnan’s family had moved the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court demanding videography of the autopsy, which the court subsequently allowed. The postmortem was conducted on Friday under these directives.
To extend support, Thirumavalavan handed over a financial aid of ₹75,000 to Ramakrishnan’s family. He further vowed that the VCK would continue to fight for justice and stronger measures to curb caste-based violence in Tamil Nadu.
