NAMAKKAL: The timely intervention of the police helped end a four-year-old fight for justice for a family who were ostracised from their village.Forty-year-old Govindasamy and his family were banished from Jambumadai village near here after he helped his elder brother Krishnasamy, whose daughter eloped with a man from a different community, four years ago. Following the incident, Govindasamy was forced to sell his farm land and leave Jambumadai after the community panchayat ostracised him. He then moved to Vadugapatti near Valiapatti. Futher, when his wife Prema tried to perform a pooja at a local temple, a group of villagers accompanied by the priest, referred to as the pudhu poosari, allegedly waylaid her, sources said. They then threatened Prema with dire consequences and warned her against worshipping in the temple.Based on a complaint lodged by Govindasamy, a police team, led by SI Madhayan and special SI Sethu, went to the village and intervened in the matter. Though the dominant group in the village initially put up resistance, they disappeared when the cops warned them of severe action if they did not allow the family to worship at the temple as it was their legitimate right.Finally on Wednesday, putting four years of discrimination behind them, Govindasamy and his family marched to the Karupannar Swamy temple and performed poojas during a procession in which the local deity was taken around the village.As Govindasamy narrated to Express, “It was unbelievable for me, because though I tried several times, a group led by the priest did not let me perform the poojas for our deity. Now, with the help of the police, I have regained my right to do so.”Notorious for Child Marriages However, Govindasamy’s story was not an isolated incident in the locality. Around six other families have been reportedly cut off from their community in the village, which has also gained notoriety for the practice of child marriage. A few months ago, the village witnessed six child marriages. It was only after the matter was widely reported in the media that the police registered cases against the parents and bridegrooms. Meanwhile, human rights activists alleged that the police and the revenue department officials seldom came forward to stop such marriages. Recently, after the practice drew flak from social activists and organisations, Namakkal collector J Kumaragurubharan initiated some measures to curb the menace.
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