Vachathi case

Vachathi
Village
Vachathi is located in Tamil Nadu
Vachathi
Vachathi
Coordinates: 11°58′2″N 78°28′16″E / 11.96722°N 78.47111°E / 11.96722; 78.47111
CountryIndia
StateTamil Nadu
DistrictDharmapuri district
Time zoneUTC+5.30 (IST)

The Vachathi case involved a mass crime that occurred on 20 June 1992 in the village of Vachathi, in Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu. A team of 155 forest personnel, 108 policemen and six revenue officials entered the Tribal-dominated Vachathi village, searching for smuggled sandalwood[1] and to gather information about Veerappan.[2] Under the pretext of conducting a search, the team ransacked the villagers' property, destroyed their houses, killed their cattle, assaulted around 100 villagers, and raped 18 women.[3]

After a court order, the CBI began probing the case, which was also under the scope of the National Human Rights Commission.[4] On 29 September 2011, a special court in India convicted all 269 accused officials under the SC-ST Prevention of Atrocities act and 17 of those for rape. Fifty-four of the original accused had died by the time of the convictions; the remaining 215 were sentenced to jail.[5]

  1. ^ Dorairaj, S. (22 October 2011). "Justice for Vachathi". Chennai: Frontline. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  2. ^ "TN: 19 yrs on, 215 guilty of atrocities on tribals". Hindustan times. Chennai, India. 29 September 2011. Archived from the original on 1 December 2011.
  3. ^ India abuse: Scores guilty of Dalit rape and torture
  4. ^ "1992 Vachati mass rape case: 215 forest personnel held guilty, nine for rape". The Times of India. Dharmapuri, India. 29 September 2011. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013.
  5. ^ 215 sentenced to jail in Vachathi case