News Special Reports Tamil Nadu

DMK’s “Eradicate Sanatana Dharma” In Action? Police Crackdown On Vinayagar Chathurthi Celebrations In TN Village Sparks Outrage, Concerns Raised About Religious Freedom Of Hindus In The State

September 20, 2023
The Commune

A disturbing incident unfolded in a village nestled in Perambalur district, Tamil Nadu, revolving around the celebration of Vinayakar Chathurthi.

V Kalathur, located in Tamil Nadu’s Perambalur district, is predominantly inhabited by Muslims, with Hindus forming a minority. Perambalur is the native of DMK MP and Deputy General Secretary A. Raja.

The majority community in this area has a history of opposing Hindu processions originating from temples. Since 2012, some local Muslims have been raising objections to the Hindu processions, branding these religious festivals as ‘sins’.

This year the issue began when the residents of V Kalathur expressed their desire to celebrate Vinayakar Chathurthi by installing an idol in the village.

To ensure the event proceeded smoothly, the villagers diligently sought permission from the Village Administrative Officer (VAO). However, their efforts were met with an unexpected refusal, as the VAO allegedly declined to grant the necessary authorization. Undeterred, the villagers escalated their request to the Collector’s office, seeking permission to install the Vinayakar idol for the festival. Much to their astonishment, their plea was denied once again, with authorities reportedly stating that V Kalathur would not be allowed to set up the idol for the celebration. But the residents went on with the installation which was done in front of the police.

The residents argue that for the past 10 years they have been celebrating the festival by installing the idol, taking it on a procession and then immersing it after the rituals. They have raised question as to why permission had to be sought for something that has been practiced for years. The officials claim there was no record of the village having done this in the past.

The villagers say that the police officials who came said that no new installations can be done in Tamil Nadu as directed by the High Court. The villagers were angered by the behaviour of the police and the state government. In a video they can be heard lamenting that it was unjust for the majority Hindus in India have to live in fear while practicing their religious rituals.

The situation took a disconcerting turn when, late at night, the police arrived at the village. They forcibly removed the Vinayakar idol and instructed the village youth to board a police van to go to the police station. Even though the youth agreed to cooperate, the police resorted to physical attacks and assaults on the innocent villagers. Shockingly, male police officers even assaulted women, pulled their sarees, tore people’s clothes and forcibly pushed them to the ground. This disturbing turn of events left the villagers in a state of disbelief and distress. Some male members of the village were dragged into the van in their undergarments.

Children who witnessed the dismantling of the Vinayakar idol attempted to protect it by hugging the deity, preventing the police from proceeding. However, the police, using their physical strength, separated the children from the idol and forcibly broke it. The children were not spared, as they too faced police action during the incident. Shockingly, the children were also chased by the police when they questioned the authorities about their actions near the deity.

Those who voiced their concerns against the police’s actions were arrested. Additionally, they damaged the mobile phone of a girl who was recording the incident and chased her, subsequently causing her to get injured.

The villagers recounted their harrowing experiences highlighting instances of police brutality, harassment, and humiliation. They expressed their bewilderment over being subjected to such treatment when all they sought was to celebrate their faith and traditions.

The villagers demand justice, they ask, “We did not commit a crime, we did not sell ganja, we did not commit a robbery, we only want to worship our deity. Why are we being harassed? We are being harmed all over the body – on the head, shoulder, legs, are the police being instructed to harm Hindus like this, in the dead of the night? How can we trust the police to help us when we need them?”

Upon reaching the police station, the authorities simply recorded the names of the villagers and allowed them to return home, assuring them that transportation would be arranged. It is essential to note that, by law, women should not be arrested after 6 PM. However, according to local witness reports, this was not adhered to, as women were taken to the police station well past midnight.

The reason cited by the authorities for denying permission to install the Vinayakar idol was perplexing, as they claimed that V Kalathur was a harmonious and secular village, making idol installation unwarranted. This justification left the Hindu community bewildered, as their intention was merely to install the idol in a pandal, perform the traditional pujas, and immerse the deity the following day, as per tradition.

Residents of V Kalathur allege that their affiliation with the Hindu Munnani may have made them targets for this ordeal.

It is to be noted that in 2021, a petition was brought before the Madras High Court regarding the practice of conducting temple processions through a Muslim-majority neighborhood in V Kalathur, Perambalur district, Tamil Nadu. The petitioner sought police protection for the continuation of these rituals and processions. The law enforcement authorities did grant permission but with certain restrictions.

During the hearing before the Madras High Court, a two-judge bench consisting of N Kirubakaran and P Velmurugan emphasized that religious intolerance poses a threat to the country’s secular fabric. The court noted that if such ‘resistance’ to religious festivals were reciprocated by another religious group, it could potentially lead to riots and chaos.

While reviewing the affidavit presented by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, the Madras High Court pointed out that objections to temple processions had arisen since 2012, whereas no such issues existed before that time. The court also highlighted that despite the court granting permission to Hindus to conduct temple processions (in accordance with Section 180A of the District Municipalities Act 1920), objections persisted within the Muslim community.

In its ruling, the court stated, “Merely because one religious group dominates a particular locality, it cannot be a reason to prohibit the celebration of religious festivals or the organization of processions by other religious groups through those areas. Allowing religious intolerance is detrimental to a secular country. Any form of intolerance by any religious group must be restrained and prohibited.”

The court further asserted, “In this case, the intolerance of a specific religious group is evident through objections to festivals that have been celebrated for many decades, and the prohibition of processions through the village’s streets and roads is justified by claiming Muslim dominance in the area.”

The judges reiterated that, in this case, due to the dominance of one religious group in the area, other religious groups and their processions cannot be excluded. The court argued that if such instances were allowed, minority communities across the country would be unable to celebrate their festivals in most areas. The Madras High Court cautioned that such protests could escalate into religious conflicts and riots, resulting in loss of life and property damage.

Just a few days before the festival, Pollution Control Board sealed an idol maker’s facility in Karur and harassed an idol maker in Tenkasi too. The The Greater Chennai Police had issued 11 commandments to be followed during the festival.

Notably, this incident has garnered absolutely no attention in mainstream media, despite the grave concerns it raises about religious freedom and police conduct. It unfolds against a backdrop of political leaders in Tamil Nadu discussing that they want to “eradicate Santhana Dharma” which has prompted anxiety among the Hindus. It is worth noting that such incidents have become more prevalent since the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) assumed power in 2021, raising concerns about the preservation of religious rights and cultural traditions.

(This report has been prepared based on inputs from Narathar Media which did the field investigation. The Commune tried reaching out to the police for comments but to no avail.)

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