Death of Dalit leader: Family demands thorough inquiry

The family members and activists from Dalit outfits today staged a protest alleging "foul play" in the death of a 45-year-old Dalit leader whose body was found in a well near here and demanded a thorough probe in the incident.
A day after the body of Chinnasamy, leader of 'Dalit Viduthalai Katchi', was found in the well in Chellampalayam, his family observed a fast at Dasampudur village demanding a probe into his 'mysterious death' and registration of a murder case.
Activists of a Dalit outfit staged a demonstration in front of the Head Post office here.
According to police, some people had picked up a quarrel with a group of Dalits who were allegedly consuming liquor near a well in Dasampudur village, where a local temple festival was held on Saturday.

An upper caste person had reportedly "abused" a 19-year- old Dalit boy by his caste name following which Chinnasamy intervened and objected.
Chinnasamy was also reported to have stated that his community people would hereafter not visit the Dasampudur and render their regular help to the upper caste community members, police said.
Chinnasamy's body was found floating in a well in Chellampalayam yesterday and was brought to the Government Hospital for post-mortem.