24-Year-Old Ramachandran Brutally Assaulted and Killed Over Caste Identity

Accident – Death – Obituary News : PUDUKKOTTAI: In a tragic incident, a 40-year-old man from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community was allegedly harassed and beaten to death by his co-worker at a bakery in Embal, Pudukkottai district. The accused, a 24-year-old individual named Jagadeesh, who belongs to the dominant caste, was arrested on Thursday along with his friend, Subramanian alias Visu, who is believed to have abetted the crime. Both suspects were remanded in judicial custody.

The victim, identified as Ramachandran C from Devakottai taluk in Sivaganga district, had previously worked as a tea master at the bakery in Embal. However, he had left his job and returned home a month ago due to alleged harassment by his co-worker Jagadeesh. Ramachandran had complained to his family about Jagadeesh’s discriminatory behavior, as the latter had reportedly informed him that customers from dominant communities were unhappy with his presence and had threatened him to stop reporting for work. Jagadeesh had also warned Ramachandran against disclosing the matter to the bakery owner, according to the police.

Despite the previous conflict, the bakery owner called Ramachandran back to work during the Deepavali festival due to staff shortages. Tragically, on the night of November 14, after work hours, Jagadeesh and his friend Subramanian allegedly assaulted Ramachandran, resulting in his untimely demise. Ramachandran’s wife, in her police complaint, stated that her husband and the accused were intoxicated at the time of the attack. Local residents, upon discovering Ramachandran’s severely injured state, rushed him to the government hospital in Aranthangi. However, he succumbed to his injuries later that night.

Following a post-mortem examination at Pudukkottai Government Medical College Hospital, the authorities handed over Ramachandran’s body to his grieving family. The Embal police registered a case against the accused based on the complaint filed by Ramachandran’s wife. The charges include Sections 302 (murder) and 294b (obscene acts) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as provisions under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Subsequently, the police arrested both Jagadeesh and Subramanian, and they were remanded to the district jail on Thursday.

This horrifying incident highlights the persisting social discrimination faced by marginalized communities, even in places of work. The authorities must ensure a thorough investigation, and those responsible for this heinous crime must be brought to justice. Such incidents serve as a reminder of the urgent need to address caste-based discrimination and promote equality and inclusivity in society..