Peace Meeting to Address Land Dispute Between Dalits and Caste Hindus Called Off

A minor issue involving a car parked on disputed land in Anchetti, Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district, has escalated into a potential conflict between Dalits and Caste Hindus, prompting the district administration to schedule a peace meeting for September 12. The meeting, initially called for September 4, was canceled after both sides claimed that the other party failed to attend.

The dispute began when a Caste Hindu shopkeeper, C. Kumaresan, parked his car on a portion of government land allegedly encroached upon by Dalit individual M. Nataraj. When Nataraj protested the car’s parking, an argument ensued, leading to a police complaint. Subsequently, upper caste Hindus filed a petition against Nataraj for encroaching on government land and placing a Dr. B.R. Ambedkar sign on the property.

This situation escalated, with Dalits alleging that caste Hindus were ostracizing them and refusing to sell to them. The tension remains high, with the possibility of physical confrontations in the area.