CHENNAI, Aug 6: Amid unprecedented security, aided even by the Rapid Action Force commandos, representatives of several Dalit organisations drawn from all over the State peacefully marched to the Raj Bhavan in the city and submitted a memorandum to Governor Fathima Beevi on the ``atrocities unleashed against the Dalit community by the State machinery and the Backward Castes during the last seven months of the DMK regime.''

After presenting the memorandum, the Federation of All Dalit Organisation, its convenor and MLA, K Krishnasamy told media persons at Raj Bhavan that the Dalits would launch a struggle for liberation on the golden jubilee of the country's Independence if the DMK government failed to concede the 11-point demands listed in the memorandum by August 14.

Later, addressing a modest gathering of Dalits at Saidapet, he asked them to garb themselves in black and hold meetings in all hamlets, observing the golden jubilee year as a year of mourning for the Dalits.

The Federation's main demands include ordering an enquiry by a Dalit, sitting Judge of the Supreme Court into the atrocities perpetrated on Dalits in various places of Tamil Nadu, effective implementation of SC/ST prevention of Atrocities Act, compensation for Dalits subjected to atrocities and release of Dalits detained under Goondas Act and National Securities Act in the last seven months of the DMK regime.

However, despite the hype and hoopla surrounding the day of action itself was an anti-climax, with only a third (5,000) of the expected number of participants reaching the city to join the procession, and the 4000-strong security seemed unnecessary. There was almost a cop for every peaceful Dalit.

Devendra Kula Velalar leader Dr K Krishnamswamy was heard complaining to the police officers that several lorry loads of persons, accounting for atleast a few thousands more, were not allowed to travel to the city from the districts.

He alleged that the about one lakh Dalits proceeding to the rally in Chennai had been taken into preventive custody in various parts of the State.The heavy security was deployed following Republican Party of India general secretary Sakthidasan's statement at a public meeting recently that the processionists would resort to violence.

However, apart from slogan shouting against the government and CM -- most of which were obscenities and unprintable, not a single incident of violence took place. The city and State police, over 300 Rapid Action Force personnel and nearly a thousand Karnataka State Police lined the 5 1/2 km stretch .

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.