 The District Magistrate of Gopalganj, G. Krishnaiah, was also murdered by upper castes as he symbolised the growing power of backwards communities.In the village of Melavalavu, in Tamil Nadu's Madurai district, following the election of a Dalit to the village council presidency, members of caste Hindus(Kallar) group murdered of six Dalits in June 1996.Melur panchayat, which was a general constituency, was declared a reserved constituency in 1996.