Manjolai labourers massacre or Thamirabarani massacre of 23 July 1999 was the death of 17 Dalit labourers, including two women and a two-year-old child, when they got into the river to escape Tamil Nadu Police lathi-charge. Public were going in procession to Tirunelveli Collectorate to submit a memorandum demanding wage settlement for the tea plantation workers of Manjolai estate. An altercation between the police and the marchers resulted in a lathi charge by police. When the marchers ran helter-skelter, many fell into the river and died.Human Rights Watch condemned the brutal police attack and killing of Dalit tea plantation workers.[2][3][4][5]
| Manjolai labourers massacre[1] | |
|---|---|
  Manjolai labourers massacre (India)  Manjolai labourers massacre (Tamil Nadu) | |
| Location | Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Coordinates | 8°36′07″N 77°15′51″E / 8.601962°N 77.264131°E |
| Date | 23 July 1999 2:40 pm (UTC+5:30) |
| Target | Manjolai Labourers and Public |
Attack type | Massacre |
| Weapons | Lathi-charge, Teargas |
| Deaths | 17 |
| Perpetrators | Tamil Nadu Police |
Background edit
On 23 July 1999, a large number of labourers from the Tea estates of Manjolai congregated in Tirunelveli and marched towards the Collectorate demanding the release of a number of estate workers, who were arrested earlier for staging protest demanding better wages. The workers were being paid 
70 per Day then and they were demanding the pay to be increased to 100. The workers were also demanding maternity leave, periodical breaks for women during the eight-hour-long duty. They were also opposing the decision of the estate owners to force workers to stay in sheds with poor facilities and deny right to rear cattle or even raise Gardens.
A large contingent of stone throwing and lathi-wielding police brutally assaulted the protesters forcing them to run towards the river. As police continued to chase them to the river, many got into the river and drowned. Justice Mohan Commission that probed into the incident submitted that 11 of the 17 died due to drowning, while rest died due to injuries.
Even now, much of their demands have not been met, but the estate workers have since been kept satisfied with a pay of 138 per Day.[6] [7][8][9][10]
Documentary film edit
The theme of the incident is the basis for Death of a river (Oru Nathiyin Maranam) a Tamil language documentary film released in 1999.[11] The 59-minute Tamil film is the work of the Kanchanai Film Society, produced and directed by R R Srinivasan.[12][13]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "23rd anniversary of Manjolai massacre commemorated". The New Indian Express. 24 July 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ "Police Killings In Tamil Nadu, India". Human Rights Watch. 6 August 1999. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ "THE TIRUNELVELI MASSACRE". Frontline. 31 July 1999. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ Kumar, P.C.V. (2023). Enabled and Empowered by the Holy Spirit: Memoirs of an Award-Winning Journalist. Notion Press. p. 113. ISBN 979-8-89066-922-3. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ G.Yoganandham, Dr. R. Rajalakshmi. Dalits Empowerment in Tamil Nadu - A Historical Perspectives. p. 152. ISBN 978-1-7947-9007-0. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Dalit outfits seek memorial for Manjolai victims". The Times of India. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
- ^ Thirumaavalavan (2003). Talisman, Extreme Emotions of Dalit Liberation. Popular Prakashan. pp. 54–. ISBN 978-81-85604-68-8. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ Bhagwan Das; S. Viswanathan (2005). In Pursuit of Ambedkar. Navayana. ISBN 978-81-89059-05-7.
- ^ "Manjolai victims got compensation, not justice". M K Ananth. The Times of India. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ "Murder, Rape, Humiliation: A Timeline Of Atrocities Against Dalits". Outlook India. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Much water hasn't flowed since his documentary". The Hindu. 15 July 2008. Archived from the original on 18 July 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ^ Death of a river Documentary film. worldcat.org. 2001–2014. OCLC 048925528. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ^ "Arrests made in India over screening of film on the Manjolai massacre". Ram Kumar. WSWS. 30 December 1999. Retrieved 13 February 2023.