2019 Mettupalayam wall collapse

The 2019 Mettupalayam wall collapse refers to the collapse of a 20-foot wall on several houses during heavy rains in December 2019 which killed 17 people during their sleep, all members of the Dalit community. The incident happened in small village called Nadur in Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, in southern India. The incident led to protests mostly from the local villagers and pro-Dalit organizations who claimed it was built to segregate the members of the Dalit Community.

Incident

The incident occurred on around 5:30 a.m on 2 December 2019, when a portion of a 20-foot wall collapsed on four houses, killing 17 people inside while they were asleep.[1][2] The deceased included 2 males, 3 children and 10 females.[3] It happened during the heavy rains of December 2019 where more than 1000 people were kept in relief camps in various districts in the state.[4] Police reported that the compound wall became wet due to the rains and collapsed, burying the victims alive during their sleep.[5] The Fire department took three hours to recover the bodies of the victims.[6]

The wall was built with basalt rocks and was 80 feet long, 22 feet tall and 2 feet wide. It was built 10 years earlier and it was also claimed by the villagers that it was built to isolate the Dalit-settlements from the two-acre property of the owner. The residents of the colony had been demanding the removal of the wall for several years, stating it was a threat to their safety.[7][8]

Protests

On 2 December 2019, This led to huge protests just hours after the incident, when protesters of pro-Dalit organizations, the local villagers and the relatives of the dead assembled in front the Government Hospital in Mettupalayam, where the bodies were kept, and raised slogans. The police later arrested 25 protesters, the protesters were sent to jail for 15 days.[9][10] The protesters claimed it was a wall of discrimination to keep the Dalits at bay.[11] The Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, started their protests demanding the release of the 24 arrested protesters.[12] The same day hundreds of people joined by various political parties blocked the road in front of the Mettupalayam Government hospital and continued their protests till police dispersed them.[13]

On 3 December 2019, Members belonging to the Aathi Thamizhar Peravai blocked the roads near Goripalayam demanding a hike of ₹20 lakhs from the ₹4 lakhs announced by the government to the families of the victims.[14]

On 22 December 2019, Tamil Puligal, a Dalit organization claimed that over 3000 members of the Dailt community will be converting to Islam as a sign of protest against wall collapse incident and the discrimination.[15][16][17] However, some residents of Nadur village rejected these claims.[18][19][20] One convert said that "converting legally are being threatened by the police. As a result, there are people who can't talk about the conversion openly".[21] While some villagers alleged that the members of the Hindu Munnani, a Sangh Parivar outfit and one of the frontal Organizations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the state, visited the villagers and threatened them against their conversion to Islam.[22]

In February 2020, the Tamil Puligal claimed that more than 430 Dalits have legally converted to Islam in various areas in Coimbatore as a protest against the wall collapse incident and discrimination.[23][24][25][26]

Reactions

The Government of Tamil Nadu announced a relief of Rs 4 lakh each to the family members of the deceased from the State Disaster Relief Fund.[27]

Dravida Munnetra kazhagam president M.K Stalin visited the families of the deceased and said the government should give government job to a family member. He also said the disaster could have been prevented if the officials had not shown any negligence.[28]

The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, leader Thol. Thirumavalavan visited the village and consoled the families of the victims.[29] D. Ravikumar one of the leaders of the party also mentioned the incident in the Lok Sabha.[30]

The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan expressed his condolences and said that the government of Kerala is ready to provide any help for the families of the victims.[31]

Makkal Needhi Maiam president Kamal Haasan said that no amount of relief can compensate for the loss and expressed his condolences.[32]

Director Pa. Ranjith said it was a discriminatory wall and accused the AIADMK government for trying to suppress the incident.[33]

See also

References
  1. Madhavan, Karthik (2 December 2019). "17 killed as wall falls on three houses in Mettupalayam". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  2. Scroll Staff. "Tamil Nadu: Wall under which 17 people got crushed was built to keep away Dalits, allege protestors". Scroll.in. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  3. "17 Dead as Wall Collapses in TN Village After Rains, 1 Arrested". The Quint. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  4. "Rains continue to lash TN, heavy rainfall warning for the next two days". The news minute. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  5. Parthiban, Praveena (2 December 2019). "Seventeen killed due to wall collapse in Tamil Nadu's Mettupalayam". The Federal. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  6. "கோவை மேட்டுப்பாளையம் அருகே பயங்கரம் சுவர் இடிந்து 17 பேர் நசுங்கி பலி". தினகரன். Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  7. John, Pradeep (2 December 2019). "Mettupalayam wall collapse: Activists allege caste angle". The Federal. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  8. "'Untouchability Wall' Blamed for 17 Deaths in Coimbatore Dalit Settlement". NewsClick. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  9. Kaveri, Megha (3 December 2019). "Mettupalayam wall collapse: Cops thrash protesters demanding justice for 17 dead". The news minute.
  10. "மேட்டுபாளையத்தில் 17 பேர் உயிரிழந்த விவகாரம்: இழப்பீடு கேட்டு போராடிய 24 பேருக்கு சிறை!". Nakkheeran. 3 December 2019.
  11. "'Wall of discrimination' fell on houses, allege Dalit, Muslim bodies". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 3 December 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 April 2020.CS1 maint: others (link)
  12. ANI (3 December 2019). "TN wall collapse: TPDK demand release of protestors and compensation for victims' kin". Business Standard India.
  13. "Angry villagers on road roko lathicharged". dtNext.in. 3 December 2019.
  14. "Mettupalayam wall collapse: Aathi Thamizhar Peravai blocks road demanding Rs 20 lakh ex-gratia". in.news.yahoo.com.
  15. "3,000 Dalits threaten to convert to Islam in protest against untouchability in Tamil Nadu". OnManorama. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  16. "3,000 Dalits to embrace Islam, cite discrimination by caste Hindus". The Federal. 25 December 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  17. Thirumurthy, Priyanka (26 December 2019). "3000 Dalits in TN to convert to Islam over govt apathy in caste wall collapse". The news minute. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  18. "TN Dalits deny claims of conversion to Islam: Report". Deccan Herald. 30 December 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  19. "Tamil Nadu controversy: No plans to convert, say some Dalit kin". Hindustan Times. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  20. "Villagers in Tamil Nadu deny reports of conversion to Islam". The Indian Express. 30 December 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  21. "Over 400 Dalits Converted to Islam Since Collapse of 'Caste Wall' Claimed 17 Lives, Says Tamil Nadu Outfit". News18.
  22. Tamilarasu, Prabhakar (7 January 2020). "What's worse — to be a Muslim in India or a Dalit wanting azadi from caste?". The Federal.
  23. "Over 400 Dalits in Coimbatore converted to Islam, claims outfit". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 13 February 2020. ISSN 0971-751X.CS1 maint: others (link)
  24. "Over 400 Dalits Converted to Islam Since Collapse of 'Caste Wall' Claimed 17 Lives, Says Tamil Nadu Outfit". News18.
  25. Nath, Akshaya. "Over 430 Dalits convert to Islam in Coimbatore citing injustice, more conversions underway". India Today.
  26. "தீண்டாமை சுவர் எதிரொலி: கோவை மேட்டுப்பாளையத்தில் 'இஸ்லாம்' மதத்திற்கு மாறிய '430' தலித்துகள்!". Adrasakka. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  27. Parthiban, Praveena (3 December 2019). "Mettupalayam wall collapse: Owner of house arrested". The Federal.
  28. "Government negligence led to Mettupalayam wall collapse deaths: DMK chief Stalin". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  29. "Book Mettupalayam house owner under SC/ST Act, demands Thirumavalavan". dtNext.in. 17 December 2019.
  30. Staff Reporter (3 December 2019). "Mettupalayam wall collapse: owner of plot held for causing deaths of 17 people". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X.
  31. "மேட்டுப்பாளையம் விபத்து... கேரள முதல்வர் இரங்கல்..." Nakheeran. 2 December 2019.
  32. "இழப்பை ஈடு செய்ய முடியாது: மேட்டுப்பாளையம் விபத்து குறித்து கமல்ஹாசன் உருக்கம்!". Samayam Tamil (in Tamil).
  33. "அய்யோ என்ன கொடுமைடா... தீண்டாமை சுவரால் பறிபோன 17 உயிர்கள்... கொந்தளித்த இயக்குனர் பா.ரஞ்சித்!". nakkheeran. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
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