Two SC men fall at BC villagers’ feet after row over burial of 90-year-old in Erode cemetery

What happened when members of the Scheduled Caste community tried to bury the 90-year-old man in the village cemetery?

The most striking development was the reported humiliation of two SC community members during a dispute over burial access. They were taking Chenni, a 90-year-old man, to the local cemetery in Perumbali village when members of the dominant BC community allegedly opposed the burial. The dispute matters because the Tahsildar had already declared the cemetery common to all communities after a survey.

The burial was conducted with police and Revenue Department protection. During the argument, SC community members were allegedly threatened and told not to approach the other community for work in the future. After that, two SC members reportedly fell at the feet of BC community members. Video of the incident later circulated on social media.

A case was registered at Thingalur police station on October 8, 2026, based on the Revenue Inspector’s complaint. The police invoked provisions of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against two people. An investigation was under way, while demands for action continued.

What do “Scheduled Caste” (SC) and “Backward Class” (BC) mean in India’s system of social classification?

“Scheduled Caste” refers to communities listed in India’s Constitution and government schedules as having faced longstanding caste-based exclusion and untouchability. The classification supports protections and affirmative measures intended to improve access to education, jobs, political representation, and legal remedies. The article identifies Chenni’s community and more than 100 village residents as SC.

“Backward Class,” commonly called Other Backward Classes in national policy, refers to communities recognised as socially and educationally disadvantaged. BC is a broad administrative category, and its members are not automatically dominant everywhere. In this village, however, the article describes the BC community as dominant in relation to the SC residents.

These labels describe official categories, not a person’s individual character or conduct. The article uses them because the reported dispute concerns unequal access, alleged threats, and humiliation linked to caste. The police invoked the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against two people.

How many SC residents live in the village, and how far have they previously had to take bodies for burial?

More than 100 people belonging to the SC community live in Perumbali village. Despite living there, they had faced repeated difficulty using the local cemetery. This was not just a question of convenience: families had to move their dead outside the village because members of the dominant BC community opposed their access.

The alternative burial location was Thingalur, about five kilometres away. The distance meant that grieving families had to transport bodies away from their own village for burial. The article presents this as a continuing problem, not a one-time event, because it says SC residents had faced these difficulties previously.

The situation prompted an official survey. After the survey, the Perundurai Tahsildar declared the burial ground common to all communities. Even after that decision, opposition reportedly arose when Chenni’s body was taken there on October 5. Police and Revenue officials then protected the burial.

Why did the Perundurai Tahsildar declare the cemetery common to all communities?

The Tahsildar’s decision mattered because SC residents had reportedly been unable to use the village cemetery freely. Members of the dominant BC community had opposed their access, forcing families to take bodies to Thingalur, about five kilometres away. More than 100 SC residents live in the village, so the issue affected a substantial local community.

The article says the declaration followed a survey. It does not give the survey’s detailed findings or describe a separate legal order. It does establish the practical result: the burial ground was officially declared common to all communities. That meant the cemetery was not limited to one caste group.

The decision did not end the dispute immediately. On October 5, opposition reportedly resurfaced when SC residents brought Chenni’s body to the cemetery. The burial proceeded under police and Revenue Department protection, and a later complaint led to a case under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

What legal protections does India’s SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act provide against caste-based humiliation, threats, and discrimination?

India’s SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act provides extra legal protection against serious caste-based abuse and exclusion. Depending on the facts, offences can include intentional public humiliation, caste-based insults, intimidation, denial of access to public places or services, and social or economic boycott. The law treats such conduct as more than an ordinary personal dispute.

The Act also supports stronger enforcement through designated courts, special investigation procedures, and relief and rehabilitation provisions for victims. Exact charges and penalties depend on the evidence and the sections applied. The article does not list the specific provisions used in this case, so the final legal position remains subject to investigation.

Here, police registered a case after a complaint from the Perundurai Revenue Inspector. They invoked provisions of the Act against two people following alleged threats and the reported humiliation of SC members during the cemetery dispute. The investigation was under way on publication.

What consequences can follow when people are denied access to a common public facility or are threatened because of their caste?

A burial ground is an essential public facility, especially during a family’s grief. Denying access because of caste can impose extra travel, delay ceremonies, and signal that one community does not belong in its own village. Threats linked to work can deepen the harm by exploiting economic dependence. These consequences are general implications of the reported conduct; the article specifically documents the travel burden and threats.

In Perumbali, SC families had previously taken bodies about five kilometres to Thingalur. When Chenni’s body was brought to the village cemetery, an argument followed. SC members were allegedly told not to approach the other community for work, and two reportedly fell at BC members’ feet. Police and Revenue protection was needed to complete the burial.

The reported consequences now include a police case, invocation of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against two people, and an investigation. Video circulation brought condemnation and demands for action. The incident also raised questions about whether officials present prevented the alleged humiliation.

Why is equal access to burial grounds connected to the broader constitutional principle of equality and the rejection of untouchability in India?

Equal access to a cemetery reflects the basic constitutional idea that people must receive equal treatment under public authority. Burial is a basic community and family need. If one caste group is blocked from a common facility, the exclusion turns a public resource into a tool of social hierarchy. That is why the reported dispute matters beyond one burial.

India’s constitutional framework also rejects untouchability and its practice in any form. This principle is broader than physical contact. It supports challenging caste-based exclusion from shared spaces, services, and community life. The article does not mention constitutional provisions directly; this explanation uses established constitutional principles to place the incident in context.

In Perumbali, the Tahsildar declared the cemetery common after a survey, yet opposition reportedly continued. Chenni’s burial required police and Revenue protection, and two SC members allegedly suffered humiliation. The case and public condemnation show the wider stakes: official equality must be protected in everyday access, not only stated on paper.

Key Facts:

📌 Two SC members reportedly fell at BC members’ feet.

📌 Chenni was 90 years old when he died.

📌 Police and Revenue officials protected the burial.

📌 SC means Scheduled Caste, a constitutionally recognised category.

📌 BC refers to officially recognised Backward Class communities.

📌 The article links both categories to a cemetery dispute.

📌 More than 100 SC residents live in the village.