Meet IPS Shahnaz Illyas Who Fought Caste Bias For Dalit Rights In Tamil Nadu
In a bold move against caste discrimination, Kallakurichi Superintendent of Police (SP) Shahnaz Illyas personally led a team to break open the locks of a local temple after dominant caste groups blocked Dalit villagers from entering. The incident took place at the Varadaraja Perumal temple in V. Alambalam village.
Tension brewed when local Dalit families announced they wanted to offer prayers during a village festival. In protest, some locals locked the temple gates to keep them out. Instead of waiting for slow official meetings, SP Shahnaz took direct action. She went to the spot, ordered the illegal locks to be broken, and stood guard ensuring Dalit residents could walk inside and worship safely.
“The temple is a public place open to everyone. No one can be barred from entering, and everyone has an equal right to pray here, she said. She then stood guard with over 100 police personnel to ensure the families could worship peacefully without fear of retaliation.
Photos and videos of her enforcing the law have gone viral on social media. Shahnaz Illyas is a 2021-batch IPS officer who cleared the UPSC exam on her very first attempt with a rank of 217. Before joining the police force, she worked as an IT engineer for five years.
She famously prepared for her civil services exams while managing pregnancy and later taking care of her newborn baby. Before her posting in Kallakurichi, she worked in the Chennai Cyber Crime division, where she fought against online fraud and fake loan apps.
