Outsiders, political leaders allowed into Vengaivayal after two years for funeral

For the first time in two years, outsiders and political party representatives were allowed entry into Vengaivayal, as the village witnessed the funeral of Karuppayi, 84, the grandmother of one of the accused in the human waste contamination case, according to the CB-CID report. Karuppayi died on Thursday morning.

Police confirmed that the entry restrictions were temporarily relaxed on Thursday afternoon to allow relatives and others to participate in the final rites. However, the earlier restrictions would be reinstated on Saturday.

Karuppayi’s funeral took place on Friday, under police supervision, as her grandson Murali Raja is one of the three accused in the case related to the contamination of an overhead water tank in a Scheduled Caste residential area of Vengaivayal. The case is pending in the trial court under the Prevention of Atrocities Act (POA Act) in Pudukkottai.

The police have been restricting entry into the village for the past two years citing the sensitivity of the ongoing case. When the deceased’s relatives arrived for the funeral, they were initially denied entry, sparking protests by local residents on Thursday morning. After discussions, the district administration and Pudukkottai police allowed outsiders to enter the village from the afternoon for the final rites.

Among the political leaders present were CPI(M) leaders, including Gandarvakottai MLA M. Chinnadurai and district secretary S. Shankar.

A team of over 100 cadres from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), led by party’s state spokesperson Paavalan and youth wing secretary Sangathamizhan, along with Pudukkottai district secretaries, entered the village for the funeral.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Paavalan said: “It is unfortunate that we were allowed into the village only for a funeral. We urge the police to lift such restrictions. While we were allowed in, media personnel were denied entry and kept outside. The village feels like an isolated island. We stayed there for over two hours.”

He criticised the CB-CID for delaying the release of its final report. “We want to know what kind of scientific evidence they are presenting,” he asked.

The ongoing protests, which had been taking place since the CB-CID’s preliminary report was released, were temporarily halted on Thursday and Friday because of the funeral.