A top police official today informed the Madras High Court bench here that 29 persons had been killed and 246 others injured in the last three years in violence that broke out during celebrations of memorial days of community leaders in eight southern districts, including Madurai.
In his report, the IG of South Zone said property worth Rs 2.05 crore had been damaged and 368 cases, including six murder cases, rioting and stone pelting had been filed.
Justice N Kirubakaran had asked police to submit a report on the impact of violence during memorial day celebrations of political and community leaders while hearing a petition filed by a local dalit outfit.
The plea sought to quash an order of the Ramanathapuram District SP that action would be taken against those who gave vehicles on hire for participating in community leaders' memorial celebrations and to forebear him from taking action based on the order.
The petitioner said thousands of people wanted to go to the Ondiveeran Memorial in Tirunelveli district and the district administration should not ban giving vehicles on hire to those who wanted to pay homage to Ondiveeran, a respected dalit community leader.
