The Hindu Munnani has expressed deep concern over the rising incidents of temple properties and idols being vandalized and looted. The organization has questioned whether the Tamil Nadu government and police will take strict action and apprehend the culprit responsible for the recent act of vandalism at the Pechi Amman temple in Kanyakumari, reportedly carried out by a man named Bennett.
The Pechi Amman temple, an old and well-known shrine in Pechiparai, Kanyakumari, is managed by a trust. Recently, the temple trustees discovered that several bronze lamps had been damaged. Upon reviewing CCTV footage, they identified the suspect as Bennett, a local fisheries department worker. Following this, the trustees filed a complaint at the Pechiparai police station. However, the accused is currently in hiding, and the police are actively searching for him.
In response to this incident, the Hindu Munnani took to its official X account to voice its concerns, raising a series of pointed questions to the Tamil Nadu government. The organization highlighted that temple vandalism and idol destruction have become frequent occurrences across the state. They questioned whether the authorities would take decisive action against Bennett for looting valuables from the Pechi Amman temple and damaging the Ganesha idol.
Furthermore, the Hindu Munnani criticized the state government, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, and the police for their alleged inaction, pointing out that thefts and desecrations continue unchecked in various temples. They also raised concerns about culprits being released under claims of mental illness. The organization demanded that the Tamil Nadu government and police not only arrest Bennett but also implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Hindu Munnani, through its official X account, queried, “Temples and idols are being damaged continuously in many parts of Tamil Nadu.Will the Tamil Nadu government and police arrest and take action against Bennett, who looted items at the Kanyakumari Pechiyamman temple and damaged the Ganesha idol..!! Temples and idols are being damaged continuously in many parts of Tamil Nadu. Banknote theft is taking place in various temples. Neither the Hindu Religious Endowments Department, the Tamil Nadu government, nor the police department are taking any proper action to stop this…Sometimes even when the culprits are found, they are released on the grounds that they are mentally ill. Will the Tamil Nadu government and police arrest and take action against Bennett, who looted items at the Kanyakumari Pechiyamman temple and damaged the Ganesha idol? Will the Tamil Nadu government and police take appropriate action to prevent such incidents from happening again..!!”
Last month, in February 2025, a similar incident occurred in Kanyakumari, sparking widespread outrage. A video surfaced showing a mob vandalizing and destroying idols at the Isakki Amman Temple.
The incident initially began on 25 December 2024, when a local man named Sajin attacked Sundar, a temple priest performing puja, and damaged the temple’s main idol. Following a complaint filed by Sundar at the Thiruvattar police station, Sajin was arrested but later released on bail.
However, on 29 January 2025, Sajin returned to the temple with a group of over 15 people in a tempo van, armed with sticks and other weapons. The mob proceeded to ransack the temple, causing significant damage. Temple priests Sundar, Ramesh, and Chandrashekar tried to intervene but were met with verbal abuse and threats.
Local residents who witnessed the attack recorded videos and shared them on social media, drawing widespread attention to the incident. After the footage reached the district police, authorities arrested Sajin along with three other individuals involved in the attack.
During interrogation, Sajin reportedly admitted that he targeted the temple based on claims made by a pastor from a local church. The pastor allegedly told him that “Satan resides near their village” and encouraged them to “eliminate it.”
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