Author: Staff Reporter
Publication: The Hindu
Date: May 3, 2005
URL: http://www.hindu.com/2005/05/03/stories/2005050311870400.htm
Dalit Christians of Thatchur village,
led by the Catholic Bishop of Chengalpattu, Neethinathan, presented a memorandum
to Collector R. Venkatesan on Monday seeking his intervention in a church
dispute between Dalit and Reddiyar Christians in Thatchur.
The memorandum said the Reddiyar
Christians refused to give equal respect and rights to the Dalit and Arundhathiyar
Christians in holding of Church rituals despite the efforts ofthe Diocese.
They had opened the Church, which
remained closed for the past several years in view of legal proceedings
initiated by Dalit Christians in Madurantakam courts, on April 27 and started
holding mass.
The Diocese, on behalf of the Dalit
and Arundhathiyar Christians, urged the District administration to ensure
that the Church be kept locked until an amiable solution was reached, the
memorandum added.
Tahsildar's complaint
Meanwhile, the Cheyyur police initiated
security proceedings before the Revenue Divisional Officer, Chengalpattu,
under Sec.107 of the Criminal Procedure Code, against the Reddiyar Christians
and Dalit Christians of Thatchur based on a complaint by the Madurantakam
Tahsildar.
The Tahsildar, K.Vana Chinnappan,
lodged a complaint with the Cheyyur police on April 28 against Arokkiasamy
and others belonging to the Reddiyar Christian community for opening the
Arokkiamatha Church at Thatchur without obtaining specific orders from
the RDO, Madurantakam.
The Church was kept locked for the
past eight years due to a dispute over holding of prayers in Telugu as
the Dalit Christians wanted it in Tamil.
When the RDO, Madurantakam, issued
an order on April 28 restraining the Reddiyar Christians from opening the
Church, they refused to receive the same.
Hence, to control the tense situation,
security proceedings were initiated, police said.
