Feature Image Credits: Janam TV
Miscreants targeted the Perumal temple near Avinashi, in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, breaking open its lock and making off with the funds from the hundi. The incident marks the latest in a series of temple-related crimes, with perpetrators attempting to rob the nearby Angalamman Makaliamman temple, the Pechi Amman temple, and the Tuluka Muttur Makaliamman temple.
The audacious thieves resorted to a brazen attempt at the Tuluka Muttur Makaliamman temple, using a soolayudham (spear) to break open the door. Fortunately, their plan was foiled as the tool became lodged in the door’s lock. Law enforcement is actively pursuing the culprits involved in these four temple incidents.
State president of Hindu Munnani, Kadeshwara C Subramaniam, issued a statement denouncing the rising tide of temple thefts. In his statement, he stated, “Over the past three years, incidents of temple thefts and vandalism have become distressingly commonplace, leading to growing concerns among the public.”
The statement said, “The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, tasked with safeguarding temples, is facing criticism for its perceived failure to enhance security measures. Private temples, too, have fallen victim to thefts, and the perpetrators often elude capture, leading to mounting frustration among devotees.
Recent instances of temple desecration further underscore the urgency of the situation. A disturbing incident on May 2023 saw an individual overnight at a major temple in Avinashi damaging the statue of 63 Nayanmars, branding him a psychopath by authorities.
The situation is not isolated to Avinashi; the Koniamman temple in Coimbatore fell prey to a hundi theft six months ago. Smaller temples are also grappling with security challenges, exemplified by the damaged statue of the Siruvachur Periyasamy temple on December 10.
The lack of police action in response to the damaged temple idols is unsettling. Authorities have attributed some instances to natural causes, such as rain, raising doubts about the effectiveness of temple protection.
The overall security apparatus in many Tamil Nadu temples is insufficient, leaving devotees in a state of shock. Questions are being raised about the commitment of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to temple safety, especially as reports of temple demolitions under the Dravidian model of rule persist.
The demolition of the 400-year-old Ammaniammal Mutt in Thiruvannamalai, coupled with ongoing injustices within the same temple, highlights the broader challenges faced by temples. The Hindu Munnani movement is calling for immediate action from the DMK government to safeguard temples and ensure stringent legal consequences for those involved in temple crimes.”
நாத்திக அரசு எனக் காட்டிக் கொள்ளும் திமுக அரசு எப்படி கோவிலை பாதுகாக்கும் என்ற கேள்வியே மக்களிடத்தில் எழுந்திருக்கிறது – மாநிலத் தலைவர் காடேஸ்வரா சுப்பிரமணியம் அவர்கள் அறிக்கை#இந்துமுன்னணி#HinduMunnani#temples#இந்துவிரோததிமுக#அறநிலையத்துறைhttps://t.co/69sPnzsxrI
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) December 21, 2023
Police are on the lookout for individuals who stole money from the Perumal temple. Dinamalar reported that miscreants attempted to steal from three nearby temples, including the Angalamman Temple and MakaliAmman Temple (mentioned above) owned by the Hindu Charities Department in Avinasi Union, Madhucherry Panchayat. Another target was the privately owned Pachayamman temple in the vicinity.
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