Murder of three Dalits in Cuddalore

Murder of three Dalits in Cuddalore: "Puliangudi is where veteran Dalit leader and founder of the Human Rights Party of India L. Elayaperumal, who was the Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, launched in 1946 his first struggle against the oppression of Dalits by caste Hindus.

Elayaperumal said in an interview in Chithirai Neruppu, a book published by Dalit, Neyveli, that he organised a mass movement when Vadamalai, an ex-serviceman and son of the Dalit headman of the village, was tied to a tree and beaten up by caste Hindus for three days simply because he had entered the village, was well-dressed and wore a moustache "in violation of the village law". (The "law" prohibited women from wearing blouses and anklets, besides placing restrictions on Dalits' movements in general.)

Thanks to his struggle, the caste Hindu elders apologised, paid compensation to the victim and lifted some restrictions on Dalits, according to the interview. "