SHRC issues notice to Tirupur district collector

COIMBATORE: The State Human Rights Commission (

SHRC

) has issued a notice to

Tirupur

district collector K Vijayakarthikeyan on Friday seeking a detailed report regarding the

arrest

of a ward councillor under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (prevention of atrocities) Act for threatening Kavandachipudur village panchayat president.

In the letter, SHRC stated that it had taken the suo motu cognisance of the incident based on media reports and called for a detailed report from the collector within three weeks.

It noted, “In the event of any default, the commission may proceed to take such action as it deems fit and proper.”

Following a complaint filed by panchayat president R Selvi, 33, on August 14, the Tirupur rural police on Tuesday arrested councillor S Kuppusamy, 40.

In May, panchayat officials and public representatives decided to distribute immunity boosters and safety gear to the sanitary workers in view of the Civid-19 pandemic. In order to carry out work immediately, they planned to conduct the event in a simple manner.

Selvi said, “On the day of the event, May 4, when I was discussing with other officials and elected members, Kuppusamy rushed into the office and questioned me for not informing him about the event in prior. He used casteist slurs, abused and attempted to assault me.”

She filed a complaint against Kuppusamy at the Dharapuram police station.

On August 14, Kuppusamy along with two of his friends threatened the president and her husband to withdraw the complaint.

“My ex-employer had threatened to lodge a fake chit fund fraud complaint against me if I did not withdraw the complaint. My husband and I attempted to self-immolate. Later, I was admitted to the hospital for drinking kerosene,” she said.

Selvi filed a fresh complaint against three of them – Kuppusamy, her ex-employer Gopalakrishnan and Deva.

Kuppusamy, who was undergoing treatment in Tirupur Government Hospital for high blood pressure, was lodged in the district jail on Thursday, while the others had applied for anticipatory bail in the high court.


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