Hindus in Udayanpatti village near Gandarvakottai in Pudukottai district were detained by police after protesting against the encroachment of Hindu sacred grove/temple land by Islamists, who have claimed that the disputed property belongs to the Waqf Board.
The disputed land is associated with a Hindu forest temple and has been used for religious worship by people from three different religious communities for several years. Residents say members of the communities had traditionally used the site for their respective religious practices without a dispute over exclusive ownership.
The situation reportedly changed recently when Islamists claimed that the entire property belonged to them and asserted that it was Waqf property.
The ownership of the land is already under dispute before the Revenue Department. An inquiry is pending to determine who legally owns the property.
Despite the dispute remaining unresolved, members of the Muslim community conducted a religious festival at the site.
Hindus Question Festival On Disputed Land
Hindu residents objected to the event, questioning how a religious festival could be conducted on the disputed property when the ownership issue was already under consideration by the Revenue Department.
They also questioned the police over who had granted permission for the event and on what basis one community had been allowed to conduct a festival at the site while the ownership dispute remained pending.
The confrontation escalated, following which Gandarvakottai police detained the protesting Hindus.
According to the report, the protesters were threatened by police before being forcibly taken into custody and confined at a private marriage hall.
The police action has itself become a major point of contention. Hindu residents have questioned why those protesting against the conduct of the festival were detained while those conducting the event were allowed to proceed.
The administration is yet to publicly clarify who authorised the festival or whether any formal permission was granted.
Questions Over Police Action
Questions have also been raised over the composition of the local administration. According to the report, the minister currently overseeing the area Mohammad Parvezand the Inspector of the Gandarvakottai police station both belong to the same Muslim community whose members are alleged to have claimed the disputed land as Waqf property.
Hindu residents have questioned whether this had any bearing on the police decision to permit the religious event and subsequently detain those who protested against it.
The administration must therefore clarify the basis on which permission was granted for the event and the reasons for detaining the Hindu protesters, particularly when the ownership dispute is already pending before the Revenue Department.
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