The Hindu : Police heave a sigh of relief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 21, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Police heave a sigh of relief

By V. Jayanth

CHENNAI June 20. More than the Government, it is the police, who are visibly relieved at the actor-producer Kamal Hassan's decision to change the title of his controversial film, `Sandiyar'. While the Government did not want to get involved in what was brewing into a caste controversy, the police, particularly in the sensitive Theni district, were afraid of being identified with any particular group. As such, when the film unit went to Theni about a fortnight ago, the Superintendent of Police turned down a request for providing full protection for the shooting. According to intelligence sources, the "build-up" in the southern districts, particularly in and around Theni — which is dominated by Thevars — was such that had the shooting been allowed to begin, a caste clash could have resulted. "Given the sensitive caste equations and tensions in the southern districts, this is something we can ill-afford at this juncture", said a senior police officer.

The officer said, though Dalit parties, including the Puthiya Thamizhagam, were not very strong in Theni, the PT built up a network following the Andipatti election, in which it fielded a candidate. Some of the pro-Thevar outfits openly came out in support of the film and the showdown was "waiting to happen". It was under these circumstances that the district police chief decided not to encourage the shooting, he said.

Apart from the potential for a Thevar-Dalit clash over a film, the police had information that the political fallout of the May 20 murder of the former DMK Minister, T. Kiruttinan, could spill over into this possible clash. "There is a move among the members of Kiruttinan's community, who are now with the DMK, to join the ruling party in large numbers; some have already crossed over. This could spark fresh trouble and have repercussions in the southern region", the officer noted. (Kiruttinan's brother recently met the Chief Minister seeking protection for the family and speedy investigation into the murder)

The police do not want any spark in the south, which could fan the flames of another caste clash in the region. The flare-ups in mid-1990s ravaged the southern districts. With the conduct of elections for the posts of president in `reserved' panchayats becoming another burning issue in the Madurai-Virudhunagar belt, the police feel that a "fresh provocation" could ignite the flames all over again.

They say that only an "acceptable compromise" between the parties involved, such as the change in title announced by Mr. Kamal Hassan and welcomed by the Dalit parties, could defuse the situation effectively. Neither the police nor their force could `suppress' such caste-oriented protests from blowing up. The Chief Minister's Andipatti constituency falls in Theni district and the shooting venue was not very far. And intelligence had it that the Dalit outfits were "waiting" for fresh grounds to launch a `vituperative campaign'.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Kamal Hassan drops `Sandiyar' title

Police heave a sigh of relief

'Video piracy throwing cinemas out of business'

Counselling for medical courses begins on June 26

Govt. must take the cost-cutting initiative

No alternative to skipping kuruvai

A practical change in Thanjavur cropping pattern

Lawyer expelled from AIADMK

Varuna puja at Big Temple

DMK parades Sivaganga leaders

Two engg. colleges facing disaffiliation

Verdict on discharge pleas on July 4

Summons to Ponmudi

Sale of MCC Finance assets declared null and void

Tigress rescued