Four tea shop owners arrested for practising untouchability

Four tea shop owners were today arrested for allegedly practising untouchability using the double-tumbler system while selling tea to SC/ST people in Yeriyur and surrounding hamlets, 48 km from here, police said.

Police found the tea shop owners using double tumbler system for selling tea to caste Hindu and SC/ST people, sources said.

V.Sivalingam (41), M.Semmalai (27), P.Madheswaran (35) and P.Mayakkannan (32) were arrested under the Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955, police said, adding, a dozen tumblers exclusively used for SC/ST people, were also seized.

The four were produced before the Pennagaram Judicial Magistrate Court and remanded in judicial custody,police said.