Perumal Murugan, whose book 'Madhorubagan' was withdrawn from the market after coming under attack by Hindutva and caste outfits, had to leave his hometown after police "suggested him to exile himself", an advocate alleged today.
Perumal Murugan confided that he left his hometown of Tiruchengode in Namakkal district only after police "suggested him to exile himself", advocate G R Swaminathan, also Assistant Solicitor General at the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, alleged in a statement.
The author had to leave his home town last week following protests against his novel.
Swaminathan had accompanied the author for the 'peace talks' called by revenue officials at Namakkal on Monday last where the author had to tender an unconditional apology. Following the peace meeting, the author had in a Facebook post said "Perumal Murugan, the writer is dead.."
Asked whether he was the advocate for Perumal Murugan, Swaminathan told PTI "I appear for Kalachuvadu which published the book and its editor Kannan. I was requested to accompany Murugan for the peace talks and I did. The statement is my account of what happened during the peace talks. I accompanied Murugan as a friend."
When contacted, Namakkal SP S R Senthil Kumar was not available for comments on the allegations made against the district police.
Police had instructed the author not to come directly to the Collectorate but to remain in his house until they sent an escort for the talks, he claimed. "At my instance, Perumal Murugan said he would come directly to the Collectorate accompanied by me alone."
Once they reached the venue and were being taken for talks, the author was throughout surrounded by a group of police constables, he said.
The District Revenue Officer, who presided over the talks did not arrange a face-to-face meeting with protestors but met them separately, he claimed. She also said the expression "sincere regret" was not acceptable to protestors and wanted to change it as "unconditional apology".
"I could see that Perumal Murugan was in real agony.. I could see that Perumal Murugan was literally crumbling within. He literally was on the edge of frustration. He said 'write anything, do anything, I accept'. I tried to pacify him but it was of no avail," he said.
