Devotees and local residents were left deeply saddened after temples constructed on government land in the Mettupalayam area near Maduranthakam were demolished following a court directive. The temple administrator also ensured that the idols were safely taken into custody.
The sannidhis, dedicated to deities such as Saneeswaran, Easwaran, Amman, Ayyappan, and Vinayagar, had been maintained by 55-year-old Murugaiyan.
The legal dispute began when Raja, a social activist from Sothupakkam, filed a petition in the Madras High Court, claiming that the temples were unauthorized structures built on public land. About six months ago, the court directed the revenue department to take action and remove the encroachments.
Subsequently, officials from the Maduranthakam revenue department issued multiple notices to Murugaiyan, urging him to comply with the court’s order and clear the site.
In response, Murugaiyan voluntarily dismantled the temples during the night and ensured the idols were preserved safely. When devotees arrived the following day, they were heartbroken to find the temples no longer standing and left the site in sorrow.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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