In Udaiyampalayam, a village on the outskirts of Coimbatore, tensions escalated over a beef biryani stall set up near the Veeramathi Amman Temple. Villagers protested, citing its proximity to the temple and a nearby school as a violation of local norms. The village, home to temples including Mariamman, Veeramathi Amman, and Karupparayan, had previously regulated against such stalls in public areas near temples or schools.
The pushcart eatery, operated by Ravi and his wife Abitha, faced objections from BJP executive Subramani, who demanded its removal. An argument ensued, with Ravi initially agreeing to relocate the stall but Abitha refusing, as reported by Dinamalar. Subramani recorded the exchange and posted the video on social media, claiming the decision to prohibit beef sales was supported by the village and known to CPM councillor V. Ramamoorthy.
As reported by The New Indian Express, Abitha later filed a complaint with the Coimbatore Police Commissioner, alleging that Subramani had threatened them on 25 December 2024, and again on 5 January 2025. She questioned why beef was being singled out while other non-vegetarian foods like fish and chicken were sold in the same area. Following her complaint, the police registered a case against Subramani under Sections 351(2), 126(2), 192, and 196.
The case triggered unrest among villagers, with over 1,000 locals staging a protest near the temple, condemning the police action against Subramani and reiterating their demand to remove the beef stall. Protesters argued that the stall’s location near the temple and school was inappropriate and offensive to public sentiment.
In response to the escalating tensions, the village committee, reportedly on orders from the headman, evicted seven roadside eateries, including Abitha and Ravi’s pushcart. This decision was criticized by CPM and CPI leaders, who petitioned the police commissioner to protect food rights and ensure the couple’s safety.
Ramamoorthy acknowledged that the couple had initially informed him of their plans to open the stall but said the location they ultimately chose—closer to the temple—had caused opposition from right-wing groups. He noted there were no legal restrictions against selling beef but attributed the backlash to the stall’s proximity to the temple.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai called for a thorough investigation, stating only part of the video had been released.
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