Caste Hindus destroy crops raised by SC farmers in Tiruvannamalai

The crops planted by SC farmers on panchami lands that were destroyed by the spraying of herbicide
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Some caste Hindu residents of Arungunam village in Tiruvannamalai district allegedly sprayed herbicide using drones and destroyed crops raised on seven acres of panchami land by Scheduled Caste (SC) farmers on February 11. The farmers had raised black gram and sesame crops on the land.

CPI(M) State secretary P. Shanmugam on Monday (February 17, 2025) alleged that though the SC farmers had lodged a complaint with the police, no action was taken on the ground that in the revenue records, the land was shown to be under the name of caste Hindus. “We are making a representation to the Tiruvannamalai Superintendent of Police,” he told The Hindu.

Mr. Shanmugam said the lands were given to the Scheduled Castes after the Untouchability Eradication Front, affiliated with the CPI(M), held talks with revenue officials. Seven acres were given to three SC farmers, M. Sukumar, M. Thilakaraj, and V. Annamalai, last year.

Mr. Sukumar, in his complaint, said the land belonged to his grandfather but was in possession of people from other communities. When he made a representation to the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), the patta was cancelled and the land was restored to him.

Threats and verbal abuse

“I planted black gram and sesame. As the crop started withering for want of water, I bought a diesel engine from my friend in Meesanallur to pump water. The tractor carrying the engine stopped as it had run out of fuel. When I was returning home after keeping the engine on the field, I was stopped by two caste Hindus. They used swear words and threatened me with dire consequences,” Mr. Sukumar alleged in his complaint to the police seeking protection.

He said three days after he filed the complaint, those who threatened him had sprayed herbicide with the help of drones and entirely destroyed his crops.

Mr. Shanmugam alleged failure on the part of revenue officials to change the records of panchami lands in favour of SCs remained a problem, and that they were unable to own their lands.