Tension has resurfaced in and around Panamangalam village under the Sirkazhi Municipality after residents objected to renewed construction activity related to a proposed Christian church near a local temple.
Panamangalam and nearby habitations such as Nadutheru, Vadakku Theru, Thekkutheru and Kumaranatham together house more than 5,000 residents. Locals state that the area is inhabited by Hindus from various communities and that the Veerankovil temple serves as the primary place of worship for villagers.
According to villagers, a few years ago a church committee began efforts to construct a new Christian church close to the Veerankovil temple despite there being no members of other faiths residing in the immediate area. The move triggered strong opposition from local residents, who gathered in large numbers and protested the proposed construction.
Following the protests, peace talks were reportedly held between officials and villagers. Residents say it was then indicated that construction should not proceed without the consent of the local community, and the issue was temporarily halted.
However, villagers now allege that repair and preparatory works have resumed at the site in recent weeks. They claim that church representatives had earlier planned to proceed through an inauguration event and that the proposal also included a cemetery attached to the church, which had heightened local concerns at the time.
Residents further state that when attempts were previously made to move forward, the entire village mobilised and blocked the effort, leading to legal steps and the installation of a peace notice indicating that no work should proceed without the knowledge and cooperation of the village.
According to local claims, fresh applications were recently submitted seeking No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for both the church and the proposed cemetery, and approvals were allegedly obtained, after which work resumed over the past month.
Villagers have questioned the necessity of the project, stating that across roughly 2,000 families in the four surrounding habitations there is reportedly not a single Christian household. They have argued that the proposed construction has therefore caused apprehension among residents.
In response, residents of Panamangalam have submitted a petition to the Mayiladuthurai District Collector demanding that no permission be granted for the church construction and that the ongoing work be immediately halted.
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