Dalit leader Chinnasamy laid to rest

The body of Dalit leader Chinnasamy, which was found floating in a well near here on March 20, was today laid to rest in Nallampatty village today in the presence of his relatives and police.
Leader of 'Dalit Viduthalai Katchi', 47-year-old Chinnasamy's body was found in a well in Chellampalayam.
Police had said some people had picked up a quarrel with a group of Dalits allegedly consuming liquor near a well in Dasampudur village, where a local temple festival was held.
An upper caste person had reportedly "abused" a 19-year- old Dalit boy by his caste name following which Chinnasamy had intervened and objected. He had also reportedly said his community would hereafter not visit Dasampudur and render regular help to upper caste community members.

His body was found floating in the well on March 20.
The following day his family staged a fast at Dasampudur, refused to receive the body after post-mortem and demanded a CB-CID probe into his "mysterious death" and registration of a murder case.

Activists of a Dalit outfit had also staged a demonstration in front of the Head Post office here.
Chinnasamy's family later moved the Madras High Court, demanding a second autopsy, which the court ordered.
The second post-mortem was conducted today at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital and his body later handed over to his relatives, after which it was taken to Nallampatty village and buried, police said.

They said a large contingent has been deployed in the village to prevent any untoward incident.