NAMAKKAL: Congress party member N Sengamalai, 50, was allegedly assaulted by a man and his two sons on June 18 night for erecting a banner welcoming commercial tax and registration minister Lokesh Tamilselvan to the Dharmaraja temple at Thimmanaickenpatti in Namakkal district on June 14.Sengamalai, who is undergoing treatment at Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital, alleged that Senthil and his two sons had told him that allowing a dalit minister into the temple was a “sin.”“They told me I had committed a crime by welcoming a dalit minister into the temple. For that alone, they beat me mercilessly,” Sengamalai told TOI. He added that he sustained bleeding injuries on his head, shoulder and legs.According to him, the trio, said to be DMK cadres, were preventing the Mangalapuram police from taking action against them. He alleged that they had threatened to murder him if he returned to the village after being discharged. Sengamalai appealed to the police and chief minister C Joseph Vijay to ensure his safety.Tamil Nadu Congress Committee Spokesperson Dr P V Senthil condemned the attack. “Every devotee has the right to worship, and every minister has the right to be welcomed. We appeal to the state govt to provide police protection to the victim and his family without delay,” he said. Namagiripettai block Congress president T P Elangovan said, “This is caste arrogance at its worst.”Senthil’s mobile phone was switched off when TOI contacted him.
