Dharmapuri violence: HC grants bail to 28 persons

Chennai: Madras High Court on Thursday granted bail to 28 persons who had been in judicial custody for about four months following their arrest in connection with torching of huts in three Dalit colonies in Dharmapuri district.

Justice R Subbiah granted bail to the accused and observed "taking note of the period of incarceration, considering facts and circumstances of the case, the petitioners are enlarged on bail on furnishing a bond for Rs 10,000 and two sureties for the like sum to the satisfaction of the Judicial Magistrate-II, Dharmapuri". The petitioners should not leave Salem and appear before the Town Police Station daily at 10.30 AM until further orders, the Judge said. On November seven last year, a group had set afire 285 huts in three Dalit colonies after a man belonging to Vanniyar caste committed suicide as he was upset over his daughter marrying a Dalit boy. PTI