Veeran, a boy from the Arunthathiyar community in Tamil Nadu—considered the lowest rung among Dalits—never knew what his ‘offence’ was. He fell in love with a Paraiyar girl—a dominant caste among Dalits named Parimala—and eloped. Her family never accepted the marriage. The consequences were gruesome. The entire Paraiyar village attacked Veeran’s family, allegedly violated their women and hurled abuses like: “keeljathi Sakkili payan” (lower-caste Sakkili boy), “Keeljathi naaye” (lower-caste dog) and “Sakiliveetu pengala karpa-lika vendum” (we should rape women living in Sakkili households). Arunthathiyars are also called Sakkili.