News Tamil Nadu

Amman Temples In Vizhupuram Demolished By DMK Govt Officials Citing Court Order; Residents Questions Urgency Behind Razing Down Temples Overnight Despite Other Encroachments

May 2, 2024
The Commune

In Villupuram, authorities demolished a temple that had been built allegedly encroaching on a cemetery area, following a court order. This action sparked protests from local residents, who surrounded the police and engaged in heated arguments.

For over a decade, three temples—Angalamman, Kurathi Amman, and Periyayi Amman—had stood in the Vazhudareddy Colony area of Villupuram. Two years ago, these temples were constructed and consecrated with Kumbabhishekam ceremonies.

Arogyaswamy filed a case in the Madras High Court, alleging that these temples were encroaching on the cemetery. Consequently, the court ordered the removal of the encroached temples. On 1st May 2024, under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Ramesh, the encroachment removal process commenced.

Facing strong opposition from local residents, who attempted to stage protests, over 100 policemen were deployed for security purposes during the removal operation. Despite these measures, residents encircled officials and police, engaging in confrontations. Subsequently, the temple was completely demolished under police supervision.

Residents criticized authorities for demolishing the temples despite regular payment of taxes, including temple taxes, electricity bills, and water taxes. As the temple was razed, devotees expressed their discontent by hurling mud cursing at the police and officials.

Ram Prasad addressed the media following the demolition of the temple by revenue officials, representing the residents of Vazhudareddy Colony. He explained that initially, a small statue of the Anngalamman deity was worshipped by the community, but as faith grew stronger, they collectively raised funds to construct a temple. Unfortunately, the temple was situated within their cemetery, which has been reduced from its original five and a half acres to just one or one and a half acres due to encroachments by various entities such as a brandy company, a rice mill, and a Honda showroom.

But only ten cents of land were utilized for the temple, the government, prompted by a petition from Arockiasamy, a self-proclaimed social activist, obtained court permission to demolish it. Ram Prasad expressed dismay at the lack of communication from the authorities, as they did not notify the residents or issue any warning before the demolition.

Furthermore, he highlighted the coercion faced by the temple administrator, Jaya Kumar, who was pressured into signing off on the demolition without proper consultation. Ram Prasad questioned the urgency behind destroying a place of worship without due process or consideration for the sentiments of the community.

“Officials from the government came to raze down the temple. Our prayers to them was this – There are a total of 5.25 acres here. Of that, there is a brandy company called MGM running for many years. The encroachments made by that company, there is a textile company – Chennai Silks – we don’t know if it is rightly there. Another rice mill is there. It is now  a Honda showroom. All these encroachments have reduced the area to 2 acres. But our temple is hardly 10 cents. But today morning, government officials came to evict in the wee hours around 3 AM when everybody in the village were asleep. Without informing, around 300-400 policemen laid siege and razed the temple down. I don’t know how this is justifiable!“, Ram Prasad lamented.

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