Dalits segregated, walled off in Madurai village (IBNlive)
"It's a reality that people of Uthapuram village in Madurai have been waking up to since 1989. The 600 m long 10 m high brick wall that separates the Dalit colonies in the village from the colonies of the Pillaimars or the upper castes.
"Dalits have been denied access to many common resources in the village.
"Villager Muniappan says, 'Until last April, the wall was even electrified--we came to know after a bird died of electrocution--but after government intervention the wires were removed.'
"But the wall of separation still exists. The Dalits have separate community halls, crematoriums and water taps and are not allowed to take part in temple functions.
"Even getting to the bus stop means waking half a kilometre extra around the wall.
[...]
"The upper castes however deny they practice untouchability.
"'There is no untouchability in this village. This wall has been built only on our private land,' says one villager."
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