Tamil
Nadu train attack incident has left the entire country in shock. For the unversed, four juveniles attacked an Odisha-based migrant worker near the Old Railway Quarters in Tiruttani by using sickles. The incident happened on a train when the Odisha man was travelling from Chennai to Tiruttani. In fact, the youth recorded the assault, and now the video is going viral on the internet. The incident has raised concerns about safety, drug abuse and violence involving youngsters in the state. Kalki 2898 AD composer Santhosh Narayanan and filmmaker PA Ranjith have condemned the Tamil Nadu train attack incident on social media.
Santhosh Narayanan On Tamil Nadu Train Attack
Santhosh Narayanan, who composed music for Kalki 2898 AD, revealed that he has lived in the area and mentioned how the ‘substance’ abuse and crime have become normal there. In his X post, Narayanan wrote, “I have lived in an area in Chennai for the past decade where it is absolutely top tier dangerous especially at night with hooligans and criminals who are mostly high on substance. Many innocent construction worker friends in my studio site were attacked several times recently. One such criminal who was apprehended was just laughing without any pain when the police lathi charged as he was stoned beyond limits.”
The composer further stated, “Moreover most of these attackers are proud racists and blanket hate/attack people from other states. It is high time we acknowledge that many local political factions and several ‘caste’ based groups come running to support these mostly young boys who end up ruining many lives along with theirs. Can we please accept the realities of these incidents and act more realistically and save so many victims ? The lines between glorified violence on screen and real incidents such as the recent one have really started blurring and it is high time we act responsibly. Me included.” (sic)
PA Ranjith's Appeal To Tamil Nadu Government
On the other hand, PA Ranjith has expressed his views on the rise in attacks against the migrants in several states including Tamil Nadu. He penned a note on X that reads, “My heart trembles in horror at the inhuman brutality that took place in Thiruthani, Thiruvallur district! In recent times, the reckless attitude of those in power who have failed to curb the growing drug culture in Tamil Nadu is the primary reason for such incidents. The fact that such criminal acts are rampant even in schools and colleges, and this has been viewed with indifference, is what has led to the mob mentality today—where groups brazenly act without any fear in public spaces. It is time for us to recognize our own responsibility in this situation and act accordingly. Liberty, equality, and fraternity—these are the foundational principles of the Indian Constitution.”
The director also mentioned that people in Tamil Nadu call all the migrant workers ‘Northies’. While speaking about it, PA Ranjith stated, “We must never undermine them in any way. We should strive to erase the differences among us and uphold fraternity. Instead, acting out of a hateful mindset that labels someone as a "Northie" will only pave the way for social disintegration. This "Northie" mindset is an extremely dangerous trend. From "humorous" posts to harsh verbal exchanges, this attitude continues to manifest on social media and in our everyday conversations. The toxic notion of viewing those who come to our region for survival as people who have stolen our opportunities exists all over the world. The only way to eradicate this is by fostering fraternity among people. Fellow human beings must respect the individual freedoms and rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution—that alone is true righteousness.” PA Ranjith appealed to Tamil Nadu government to curb such incidents in the state to avoid any future issues. He said, “Furthermore, those who gather in mobs in public spaces, brutally assault an innocent young man with vicious weapons, record it on video, and share it on social media out of a sense of pride must be identified by the police, arrested, and given the maximum punishment. Moreover, to prevent minors and youth, in their obsession with social media, from banding together in ways that create tension in society or incite violence—such as posting reels—the authorities and police must take proactive measures without delay. We must not approach these issues by treating drug culture, weapon culture, and social division as isolated factors. They are all interconnected. We strongly urge the Tamil Nadu government to ensure that such incidents never happen again under any circumstances!” Earlier, Thalapathy Vijay also condemned the Tamil Nadu train attack incident on social media. According to the cops, the four juveniles have been taken into custody. The cop said that the accused are school dropouts and have been taken into remand under the Juvenile Justice Act. Stay tuned for more updates!