The heartening suo motu action that the Madras High Court is taking on the release of the convicts of the Melevalavu caste killings notwithstanding, the top court on Monday issued notices to 13 released convicts. The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court had earlier asked the government to produce the original government orders that facilitated the release of the convicts.

The HC division Bench which heard the case on Monday also orally noted that there should be a mechanism to limit State from passing 'premature' GOs, citing the convicts in the Dharmapuri bus burning case were also released in such manner.

The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, meanwhile staged a flash road roko near the Anna Bus Stand in Madurai after they were denied entry into Collectorate. The protests will continue till the convicts are again taken behind bars, said some cadre. Meanwhile, advocate P Rathinam, who had filed the PIL challenging the GO which allowed the premature release of the convicts, appeared as party-in-person in the case. On June 30, 1997, a mob of Thevar men had brutally hacked down the six erstwhile panchayat functionaries of the Melevalavu Panchayat, who were all Dalit. The panchayat had been named 'reserved' for that election, which did not sit well with the 5000-families-strong Thevar community.

Murugesan, of the minority community which had only around 150 families in the panchayat, decided to stand for the election as he wished to get the Dalit families pucca houses, water, and an opportunity at education. When he filed his nomination, three houses were burnt down by an upper-caste mob. The election had to be cancelled and rescheduled. The second time, they attempted to capture booths and when that was thwarted, the Thevars boycotted the elections. Despite all this, a panchayat body was formed after elections, with Murugesan becoming the panchayat chief.

All the functionaries kept getting death threats, following which they made several attempts to approach the authorities for protection. They were denied protection several times and while on their way back from one such expedition to the collectorate, seeking protection, they were apprehended and brutally hacked by a mob. Murugesan was beheaded and his head thrown into a well half a kilometre from the spot of attack, and the other functionaries also were hacked to death. The case initially had 44 accused, which was later sized down to 17. The convicts were released by a government order by the AIADMK government as part of the MGR centenary celebrations. The reason cited was 'good conduct'.