Demonstration condemns filing of cases against blacksmiths making machetes

Condemning the cases registered against blacksmiths making machetes in the district, a demonstration was held here on Saturday.

The blacksmiths and members of Pasumai Bharatha Makkal Katchi, who stage dthe protest, said the police had intensified their action against those making machetes, a farm equipment, in the wake of recent murders and three blacksmiths had been booked under the Arms Act. The Moolaikkaraipatti police had registered a case against Sermavel, a blacksmith, and two of his family members for making machetes.

Moreover, the blacksmiths were being warned against making machetes, which was their livelihood.

When the district witnessed caste clashes in 1998, more than 900 machetes were seized by the police from the blacksmiths, which were returned to them later following an order from the court. While machetes and knives can be purchased online, the police are banning the making of these farm equipment by the blacksmiths.

“If the cases registered against the blacksmiths are not withdrawn within a week, we will purchase 100 machetes from online shopping platforms with GST and send it to the police,” said Arumuga Raja, president of the party.