Two of the relatives fell at the feet of those blocking the way and pleaded for permission
M Kumar, a villager, said family members and friends of Senni, a dalit who died at the age of 90, were taking the body to the burial ground in Perumpalli under Madathupalayam village limits when some people belonging to a dominant caste blocked their way, saying dalits cannot be buried there.
Perundurai tahsildar said the family finally buried the body at the common ground. “We are inquiring into the allegations that some people were forced to fall at the feet of some others,” Selvakumar said. Anticipating resistance, the family had informed the police in advance. Police personnel, along with revenue officials and village panchayat functionaries, were present at the spot. The incident has triggered outrage among villagers, with several residents maintaining that access to a common burial ground is a basic right and that no family should have to beg for permission to conduct the last rites of a loved one. The controversy over access to the common burial ground has since sparked widespread discussion in the Perundurai region, with residents calling for a thorough inquiry and measures to ensure equal access to public facilities irrespective of caste.