Teen shot by police after machete attack on Dalit youth in Tamil Nadu
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A 17-year-old boy from the Thevar community in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district was shot and injured by police in the early hours of Tuesday following a violent incident rooted in caste tensions.
The youth, allegedly armed with a machete, first attacked a 22-year-old Dalit man and later turned on police officers who responded to the scene.
The altercation took place around 1:30 am in Pappakudi village, where the teen and his associate - both minors - allegedly launched a machete attack on Sakthi, a Dalit youth from the nearby Rastha area.
According to senior police officials, both accused were already facing criminal cases, and the assault is believed to have stemmed from ongoing caste-related hostilities in the region.
When Pappakudi police, led by Sub-Inspector Murugan, arrived to intervene, the situation escalated. Instead of fleeing, the teens reportedly turned their weapons on the officers, chasing them through the village.
In a particularly harrowing moment, Sub-Inspector Murugan was forced to take shelter in a nearby house as the assailants allegedly struck the door with their machetes. “Fearing for his life, the officer opened fire to disperse the assailants,” a senior officer told The Indian Express. “Two rounds were fired. One bullet struck the attacker’s hand, but did not penetrate deeply.”
The injured teen and Sakthi were taken to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital for treatment. The police officer who sustained injuries during the chase is also receiving medical care. All three individuals are currently hospitalised.
Preliminary investigations revealed heightened tensions in Pappakudi earlier that night, following a minor altercation between members of two caste groups. While most individuals left upon the arrival of the police, the two armed teens allegedly stayed behind and intensified the conflict.
“The boy chased the police with a sickle. We tried to manage the situation, but when the officers were also attacked, they were forced to act in self-defense,” the officer added.
Authorities have launched a search operation to locate the second minor, who managed to flee. A case has been registered against both teens for attempted murder and assault on public servants.
