1997 Melavalavu massacre

The men were hacked to death after some dominant caste members refused to accept a Panchayat president from the Dalit Community.

[3] He along with six other men were murdered when they were returning in a town bus from Madurai after meeting the Collector office on 30 June 1997.

[8] The men were not allowed to enter the village and were made to stay in Vellore till a petition which demanded against their early release is completed.

[9] In February 2020, The Madras High Court withdrew the interim order which restricted the 13 convicts to Vellore district.

[10] The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi(VCK), the Communist Party of India Marxist and other organisations commented against the release of the prisoners.

[11] The VCK built a memorial for the victims of murder and thousands of the party cadres gather there every year to pay their respects.