Youth killed in caste attack after dispute over horse grazing

 

By Sagaya Fernando | August 2, 2026

Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, INDIA: A 28-year-old Dalit man was allegedly killed and another seriously injured in an attack following a dispute over a horse in Kodaikanal taluk of Tamil Nadu's Dindigul district, prompting police to register a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The deceased has been identified as V. Ramar, a daily wage labourer from Poombarai village, while his friend Prasanth sustained serious injuries and is undergoing treatment at Theni Government Medical College Hospital.

According to police, the incident occurred on the night of July 30, when J. Ragavendran alias Raghu, a man from a dominant caste community, allegedly went to Ramar's house claiming that the victim's horse had wandered onto the road and needed to be taken back.

Ramar, accompanied by Prasanth, went with Raghu to retrieve the horse. Police said an argument broke out at the spot, during which Raghu allegedly abused Ramar, hurled caste-based slurs and attacked both men with a knife. Ramar sustained fatal injuries and died, while Prasanth was seriously wounded.

However, the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) has disputed the police's initial version of events. In a statement, the organisation alleged that Raghu lured Ramar to the location by claiming the horse had grazed on his land. According to TNUEF, a group of around five men armed with sickles then assaulted Ramar and Prasanth in a pre-planned attack.

Relatives of the victim also questioned the motive presented by police. A family member said there had been repeated disputes between Ramar and Raghu over the horse entering farmland owned by Raghu. While police have described the incident as stemming from personal enmity, the family and Dalit organisations allege the killing was caste-motivated.

Police have booked four persons under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and other relevant provisions. One accused has surrendered and been taken into custody, while police said efforts are continuing to trace and arrest the remaining suspects.

Following the incident, Ramar's relatives refused to accept his body after the post-mortem at Government Dindigul Medical College Hospital, alleging that more people were involved in the attack and demanding the immediate arrest of all those responsible.

The incident triggered protests by members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Dalit organisations, who staged a road blockade demanding swift arrests, adequate compensation for Ramar's family, a government job for his widow, financial support for the education of his two children, and the best possible medical treatment for the injured Prasanth.

A delegation comprising TNUEF state secretary Se. Muthurani, Dindigul district secretary K.T. Kalaichelvan, state committee member Vanaja, and CPI(M) district executive committee member Ajay Ghosh visited Ramar's family at Dindigul Government Medical College Hospital and assured them of legal and organisational support.

In a statement, TNUEF state president T. Sellakkannu and general secretary P. Sugandhi strongly condemned the alleged caste-based killing and said the organisation would continue its legal and democratic campaign until justice is secured for the victim's family.

The investigation remains ongoing.