A video showing a mob vandalizing and destroying idols at the Isakki Amman Temple in Kanyakumari has sparked widespread outrage within the community. The temple, situated in the Thottathu Vilai area near Thiruvattar in Kanyakumari district, holds daily pujas, special rituals on auspicious days, and a five-day festival during its annual celebrations. Devotees from nearby areas regularly visit the temple for darshan.
The incident began on 25 December 2024, when a man named Sajin from the local area assaulted Sundar, a temple priest conducting puja, and damaged the temple’s main idol. Following a complaint lodged by Sundar at the Thiruvattar police station, Sajin was arrested and later released on bail.
However, on 29 January 2025, Sajin returned to the temple with a group of over 15 individuals in a tempo van, armed with sticks and other weapons. The mob proceeded to vandalize the temple, causing extensive damage. Temple priests Sundar, Ramesh, and Chandrashekar attempted to intervene, confronting the attackers while being subjected to verbal abuse.
Local residents who witnessed the attack recorded videos of the vandalism and circulated them on social media, drawing public attention to the incident. After the footage reached the district police, authorities arrested Sajin along with three others involved in the attack.
During interrogation, Sajin reportedly confessed that he targeted the temple based on claims made by a pastor from a local church, who allegedly told him that “Satan resides near their village” and encouraged them to “eliminate it.”
(With inputs from News 18 Tamil)
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.