Blaming the intelligence wing of the Police department for the clashes, the committee, while terming it (Intelligence system) as ``not very effective,'' advised the government to improve the system to obtain advance information on the happenings in the villages.

The report further observed, ``If the intelligence system had been effective, the government could have gained knowledge in advance of the feelings among the people'' regarding change of the name of the transport corporation, operating out of Virudhunagar. ``This could have helped the government to delay the announcement until proper precautionary arrangements had been made.''

The report further stated that ``the staff sanctioned for the Intelligencesection is inadequate,'' and equipment like wireless sets, emergency vans and other necessary infrastructure were also needed. The committee, constituted by the State in July 1997 to probe the reasons for the clashes and suggest remedial measures, found that the change of name of the Pandian Roadways Corporation to Veeran Sundaralingam (a Dalit leader) Transport Corporation, had led to the outbreak of violence in the region. Over 12 persons were killed and several injured in these clashes. The Committee's report, which was submitted to the government on January 31 this year, was tabled in the Assembly today.

Noting that the clashes, which broke out first in Virudhunagar and later spread to the surrounding districts, were not ``a sudden or a first-time occurrence,'' the committee observed that the ``first and foremost cause for these caste clashes is the long-standing animosity and traditional rivalry among the various castes.''

Suggesting various measures to prevent such occurrences in the future, thereport stated that while political leaders have been ``vociferous'' in their views against untouchability, ``the action taken so far has not resulted in a complete eradication of this evil.'' A widespread and intensive mass propaganda against untouchability should be undertaken vigourously on the same lines as in the case of AIDS and family welfare.

The committee blamed high prevalence of unemployment, rampant illicit arrack brewing and ``usurious'' (lending money at exorbitant rates of interest) money-lenders as reasons for caste clashes. ``The absence of a responsible government servant at the village level has been the cause for the failure on the part of the State to get complete and correct information regarding the happenings in the village,'' the report added.