In January 2026, there were protests in Rakkiyapatti village under Ettiveerampalayam panchayat in Avinashi taluk of Tiruppur district in January 2026 after a protest against the demolition of a Murugan temple allegedly built on encroached government land turned violent, leaving a Hindu Munnani functionary injured.
According to officials, the temple, locally known as Kumarankundru or Selvamuthu Kumarasamy Temple, had been constructed on about 2.8 acres of government poramboke land. The complex included shrines dedicated to Murugan, Vinayagar, a Sivalingam and Nandi.
The demolition was carried out by the Revenue Department under the leadership of Avinashi Tahsildar Chandrasekar, with heavy police deployment. More than 100 police personnel led by Avinashi Deputy Superintendent of Police Sivakumar were stationed at the site to maintain law and order during the encroachment removal.
Authorities maintained that the action was part of a land clearance drive. However, members of Hindu Munnani and local residents, including women, gathered at the site and raised slogans opposing the demolition, accusing officials of targeting a place of worship and demanding that the operation be halted.
During police attempts to disperse the crowd, heated arguments broke out, leading to pushing and scuffles between protesters and police personnel.
Addressing a press meet on 19 February 2026, Hindu Munnani chief Kadeswara Subramaniam alleged that the removed Murugan idol was more than a century old and that the action was taken under political pressure.
“In the Ettiveerampalayam Panchayat near Perumanallur in Tirupur district, there was a 100-year-old idol of Lord Murugan. That idol was located on a small hill known as Kumaran Kundru,” he said.
Subramanian claimed, “Some people from the Communist party, specifically the local MP, put pressure on the authorities, and on the orders of the Collector, that idol was removed overnight. This happened even though the local public tried to stop it.”
He further stated, “The Archaeological Research Department has stated in court that the idol is over 100 years old. There were orders from our rulers that a decision should be taken only after a court inquiry, yet they went ahead and removed it.”
Calling the State government “anti-Hindu,” Subramanian said devotees had approached the court and expressed confidence that the idol would be reinstalled.
“To face this legally, Murugan devotees have approached the court. Surely, an idol will be re-established there,” he said.
He added that a “massive non-violent struggle” had been launched in protest, involving the chanting of Kanda Sashti Kavasam and special worship.
“This is the first stage of the protest. If an immediate decision is not taken, it will reflect in the upcoming elections. This struggle will continue,” he said.
Subramanian urged the State government and the HR&CE Department to investigate the issue and restore the idol. He also announced that Kanda Sashti Kavasam would be sung across Tamil Nadu at 6 PM in solidarity.
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