Tension escalated in Rakkiyapatti village under the Ettiveerampalayam panchayat in Avinashi taluk of Tiruppur district after a protest against the demolition of a Murugan temple allegedly built on encroached government land turned violent, leaving a Hindu Munnani leader injured.
According to officials, the temple, known locally as Kumarankundru or Selvamuthu Kumarasamy Temple, had been constructed on around 2.8 acres of government poramboke land. The temple complex included shrines dedicated to Murugan, Vinayagar, a Sivalingam and Nandi.
The demolition was carried out by the revenue department under the leadership of Avinashi Tahsildar Chandrasekar, with heavy police deployment. More than 100 police personnel, led by Avinashi Deputy Superintendent of Police Sivakumar, were stationed at the site to oversee law and order during the encroachment clearance operation.
The Selva Muthukumarar Temple, located in the Eettiveerampalayam area of Perumanallur in Tiruppur District, is an ancient temple serving as the kuladeivam (family deity) place of worship for the people of that region. This temple is associated with the renowned Alagumulai Murugan Temple in Tiruppur District.
As demolition work began using heavy machinery, members of Hindu Munnani and local residents, including several women, gathered at the site and raised slogans opposing the removal of the temple. Protesters accused the authorities of targeting a place of worship and demanded an immediate halt to the demolition.
During attempts by the police to disperse the crowd, heated arguments broke out, leading to pushing and scuffles between protesters and police personnel. In the ensuing commotion, Hindu Munnani leader Kadeshwara Subramaniam was reportedly injured. Eyewitnesses claimed he sustained injuries during the jostling between the public and the police.
Following the incident, Subramaniam was taken to the Tiruppur Government Hospital for treatment.
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