Tension gripped Puthagaram village near Walajabad in Kanchipuram district after unidentified miscreants set fire to the newly built temple chariot that belonged to the Muthu Kolaki Amman temple on Saturday (6 September 2025) night.
The chariot, measuring around 30 feet, had been constructed at a cost of several lakhs of rupees with contributions from the public and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, as the temple car festival had not been held for over four decades due to poor maintenance of the old structure.
Disputes had recently arisen in the village, with one group demanding that the new chariot procession pass through their area, while another section opposed it, citing traditional restrictions. A member of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) from Buddhagaram filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking government intervention to ensure that the chariot procession covered their locality as well. The court adjourned the matter to September 15, directing the district collector to inspect the site and submit a report.
In the meantime, the newly built chariot was kept covered with a tarpaulin. On Saturday night, miscreants set fire to the structure. While the tarpaulin was damaged, timely rainfall helped prevent the blaze from spreading further.
News of the incident triggered protests in the village, with over 100 residents staging a road blockade demanding immediate arrests. Police personnel pacified the crowd by assuring strict action against the culprits, after which the protesters dispersed.
More than 50 police personnel have since been deployed in Puthagaram to prevent further unrest. District Superintendent of Police Shanmugam visited the site and conducted an inspection.
An investigation is underway to identify those responsible for the arson.
(With inputs from Dinamani)
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