A group of Dalit villagers, allegedly barred from entering a temple by caste Hindus for the past few years, offered prayers at the Ekambareshwarar temple at Chettipulam village in Nagapattinam district after the district administration brokered a fragile peace deal between the two sides on Tuesday. The temple, constructed years ago

by the caste Hindus, had been in the eye of a storm after some Dalits alleged that they were not permitted inside the temple even during the festival following a fracas a few years ago.

The Untouchability Eradication Front — the group that brought to public attention the infamous ‘untouchability’ wall at Uthapuram village — had taken up the issue recently and even attempted to enter the temple premises earlier this month.

“During the subsequent peace talks, we realised that the caste Hindu leaders were unaware of the provisions of punishment under the Protection of Civil Rights Act, which would have made them ineligible to contest the local body polls and landed them in prison. After we made them realise the legal implications, they agreed to permit the Dalits in the temple,” said Collector C Munianathan.

On Tuesday morning, about 80 Dalits, accompanied by Munianathan, DIG Abhay Kumar Singh and SP Maheshwar Dayal, visited the temple and offered prayers.