A resolution has been passed seeking the reinstallation and consecration of deities at the historic Shiva temple located on Padmagiri Hill in Dindigul, a shrine believed to have been built by the Chera kings.

The demand calls for the idols of Padmagireeswarar and Abirami Ambal to be re-installed at the temple, with an appeal to both the Central and State governments to take necessary steps to facilitate the consecration (pratishta). The resolution was adopted at a special executive committee meeting of the All Pillaimar Perumakkal Association.

The meeting was presided over by Honorary President Raghuraman Pillai, while Association President Chandran Pillai led the proceedings.

 

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Notably, a similar demand had been raised earlier in January 2026 by the Okkaligar (Kappu) Youth Association during its district executive committee meeting in Dindigul. The youth body had also urged authorities to reinstall the idols of Padmagireeswarar and Abirami Amman at the Padmagiri Hill temple and to take steps to restore consecration and regular worship at the hilltop shrine.

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A district executive committee meeting of the Okkaligar (Kappu) Youth Association was held at the Okkaligar Bhavan headquarters in MVM Nagar, Dindigul, on Tuesday.

The meeting was presided over by district president Govindaraj, with secretary Karthikeyan and treasurer Sadaimuthu in attendance.

During the meeting, members highlighted the religious significance of Padmagiri Hill in Dindigul, which is visited every month by devotees who undertake girivalam (circumambulation) and offer prayers. However, the absence of deity idols at the temple located on the hilltop has been a longstanding source of concern among devotees.

The association passed resolutions urging the reinstallation of the idols of Abirami Amman and Padmagireeswarar at the Padmagiri Hill temple. It also called upon both the Central and State governments to take necessary steps to facilitate the consecration (pratishta) of the deities at the hilltop shrine.

Additionally, the association urged political parties to include the installation of the deities at Padmagiri Hill as an election promise.

The meeting concluded with a call for coordinated efforts to restore regular worship at the temple and address the sentiments of devotees.

Source: Dinamalar

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A political controversy has erupted after a man who questioned Karur Member of Parliament Jothimani was allegedly assaulted by a Congress party functionary during her visit to Dindigul district, an incident that was caught on camera and has since gone viral on social media.

The incident occurred when Jothimani was visiting Vedasandur town in Dindigul district on behalf of the Indian National Congress to interact with the public regarding the 100-day employment scheme. As part of the programme, she was meeting villagers to discuss the scheme and hear their concerns.

According to reports, when the MP arrived at Kalvarpatti village, she stepped out of her car to meet local residents. At that moment, a man approached her and questioned what she had done for her constituency. The remark reportedly provoked a Congress functionary present at the spot, who immediately attacked the man and chased him away.

Jothimani was present during the incident, but no attempt to stop the assault was seen in the video, which has drawn criticism and shock among viewers after it began circulating widely on social media platforms.

Following the incident, Jothimani went ahead with the scheduled programme and addressed the gathering. During her speech, she spoke about the changes brought about by the central government to the 100-day employment scheme and discussed related issues affecting beneficiaries.

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The post Mohabbat Ki Dukaan: Congress MP Jothimani’s Aides Attack Man In Her Presence For Asking About Her Work Done appeared first on The Commune.

Several villages in and around Dindigul district are witnessing prolonged tension over land use, religious rights and alleged encroachments, with Perumal Kovilpatti village emerging as a flashpoint.

Perumal Kovilpatti is home to around 1,000 families, of which approximately 850 are Christian households and about 150 are Hindu households, making Hindus a numerical minority in the village. Disputes have centred on government-allotted land meant for religious purposes.

Records indicate that in 1985, the government allotted 12.5 cents of land for Hindu religious use and, on the same date, allotted 22 cents of land to Christians for the construction of a church. A church was subsequently built on the 22 cents allotted to Christians. In addition to this land, allegations have been raised that further government land was occupied, including the construction of compound walls extending beyond the allotted area, the closure of three streets, and the digging of two wells on government poramboke land.

The 12.5 cents allotted to Hindus contains three places of worship – Kaliamman temple, Mandu Karuppanasamy temple and Bhagavathi Amman temple along with a neem tree revered locally as Veppamaram Mariamman. Sources note that Hindus have confined themselves strictly to the land allotted to them and have not encroached beyond it.

Tensions escalated when boundary stones were erected on the 12.5 cents following court orders permitting Hindus to enjoy the land allotted to them. It is alleged that the boundary stones were removed in the presence of police personnel and that Hindus were subsequently attacked, resulting in several injuries. Those injured reportedly underwent treatment for days at the Dindigul Government Hospital. No arrests are stated to have been made in connection with the alleged assault.

Disputes related to religious observances at the Mandu Karuppanasamy temple are said to have continued for more than 25 years. Around 25 years ago, a Deepathoon near the temple was allegedly destroyed after a vehicle was driven into it, following which complaints were lodged with the police. Since then, Hindus have repeatedly sought permission to light lamps at the temple entrance on Karthigai Deepam day, but authorities have cited law-and-order concerns to prevent the practice.

Despite there being no reported restrictions on activities at the church, Hindus have been required to approach courts for permission to carry out lamp-lighting rituals at the temple entrance. On December 1, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court passed an order directing that the lamp be lit. It is alleged that even after the order, the practice was prevented, leading to contempt proceedings currently pending before the Madurai Bench.

Similar issues have been reported from other villages in the region. In Panchampatti, Hindus were initially prevented from conducting annadanam on common land and were able to do so only after obtaining court permission. Even after the court order, it is alleged that a large group of Christians gathered at night and obstructed the setting up of the annadanam pandal.

In Perumal Kovilpatti, it is also alleged that a Hindu temple priest was killed around 20 years ago and that Hindus in the village have since faced repeated instances of violence and restrictions on religious practices.

Concerns have been raised that several villages around Dindigul, where Hindus are minorities are witnessing a pattern of disputes that could result in demographic and cultural displacement. Allegations have also been made that political parties and organisations have downplayed or diverted attention from these issues by portraying Hindu assertions of religious rights as attempts to create law-and-order problems.

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The post Demography Is Destiny: In Dindigul Villages, Minority Hindus Have To Fight For Their Religious Rights appeared first on The Commune.

A one-day Annadhanam (community meal) organized by Hindu residents of Panchampatti village in Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul district conducted on government land with the express permission of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court sparked large-scale protests from the local Christian majority. Over 500 members of the community blocked roads, raised black flags, and surrounded the Collectorate demanding that the event be cancelled.

Yet, The Hindu, in a striking example of editorial euphemism, described the entire episode as “womenfolk belonging to a Christian community assembled expressing their disappointment over the permission granted to serve annadhanam.”

Majority Christian families in a Tamil Nadu village create chaos over a High Court order simply allowing Hindus to hold a one-day Bhandara on govt land.

How does @the_Hindu report it?

“Christian community expressed their disappointment…” pic.twitter.com/dyTD2qOgNA

— Swati Goel Sharma (@swati_gs) November 5, 2025

The High Court had earlier made it clear that the ground in question was gramamatham land, a public space under state ownership, and could not be monopolized by any single community. Justice G.R. Swaminathan, who delivered the judgment, reminded officials that freedom of religion under Article 25 is a fundamental right and that maintaining law and order is the state’s duty, not an excuse to restrict religious activity.

Despite this categorical ruling, Christian groups in the village, numbering over 2,500 families compared to about 100 Hindu households, reacted by staging a mass protest. Women and church members marched to the Dindigul Collectorate, attempted to surrender their ID cards, and demanded that the ground be officially renamed as a “Pascha Ground,” asserting that it had been used for Easter gatherings for over a century.

Officials confirmed that the protesters blocked roads and refused to disperse until District Collector S. Saravanan and SP A. Pradeep intervened. More than 100 police personnel were deployed, and cases were filed against several demonstrators who had gathered at the Annadhanam site the previous night.

The High Court had specifically ruled that “a public ground should be available for the use of all communities or none”, rejecting the claim that one faith could claim exclusive rights over public land. The judge even acknowledged the Christian community’s long tradition of Easter use but said that apart from that specific period, others too must be allowed access.

While the Annadhanam concluded peacefully under police protection, the way The Hindu framed the incident, reducing a 500-person road blockade and a coordinated identity-card protest to “disappointment”, raised questions once again about the journalistic integrity of the publication.

Critics argue that The Hindu’s report diluted both the scale of the agitation and the principle at stake: that the High Court’s order was about equal access to public land and religious fairness, not sectarian privilege. What was essentially a defiance of a court ruling was presented instead as a “community expressing its feelings.”

Had 500 people from the Hindu community blocked roads in defiance of a High Court order, the incident would be condemned and calls for “tolerance” and what not would have come up, add to this, debates on prime time in news channels while being described as a major law and order crisis and not a softened “expressing disappointment.”

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Tension gripped Dindigul district on Monday after more than 500 members of the Christian community from Panchampatti village staged a road blockade protesting against the conduct of annadhanam on government land during the Kumbabishekam of a Hindu temple.

The protest came in defiance of a Madras High Court order that permitted the annadhanam, observing that when a public ground belongs to the state, it cannot be restricted for use by any specific community. Following the court’s direction, the annadhanam was held on Monday at the designated public ground.

Senior officials, including District Collector S. Saravanan and Superintendent of Police A. Pradeep, held negotiations with the protesters at the collectorate and pacified them, leading to the withdrawal of the agitation later in the day.

According to sources, the annadhanam was planned by local Hindu residents following the Kumbabishekam ceremony of a temple in the village. However, local authorities had earlier denied permission to use the government-owned vacant ground situated between a temple and a church. After a resident challenged the rejection, the High Court granted permission for the event.

Panchampatti village, which has a population of over 10,000 families, includes more than 2,500 Christian families and about 100 Hindu families. On Sunday night, Christian residents staged a black flag protest at the annadhanam site, demanding that the public ground be designated as a “Pascha Ground” on the event invitations.

On Monday morning, hundreds of Christian residents, including women, marched to the Dindigul Collectorate intending to surrender their government-issued identity cards in protest. They blocked the road leading to the collectorate and raised slogans against the district administration.

Over 100 police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order. A case was registered against around 100 protesters who had gathered at the annadhanam site on Sunday night, officials confirmed.

(Source: Times of India)

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Members of the Hindu Munnani were arrested by the Dindigul police after they attempted to carry out a Vinayagar Chaturthi procession despite an official ban.

Traditionally, residents of Kudaiparaipatti organize a procession of Lord Ganesha idols every year to mark the festival. However, this year, authorities prohibited the procession on behalf of Hindu organizations, citing law and order concerns.

Refusing to comply with the police directive, Hindu Munnani announced that they would proceed with the event regardless of the restrictions. In anticipation of potential unrest, a heavy police force was deployed in the area under the supervision of Dindigul City Superintendent of Police, Karthik.

Led by Hindu Munnani’s city president Gnanasundaram, district vice presidents Ravichandran and Rajendran, and executive committee member Shankar Ganesh, the group loaded the idol into a van and moved forward with the procession. The group, accompanied by drum beats, transported the idol to temples including Vinayagar, Kaliamman, and Bhagavathiyamman in the area, where special poojas and offerings such as sundal, kozhukattai, pongal, and fruits were conducted.

Following this, the idol was brought to the Karupanaswamy temple, where additional rituals were performed before the procession continued. However, the procession was halted by the police at the Dindigul-Batlagundu road. Authorities seized the idol and stopped the event, citing violation of the imposed ban.

The Hindu Munnani protested the police action, leading to the arrest of 36 of its members, including 24 women. Meanwhile, under the supervision of West Tahsildar Jayaprakash, the police transported the confiscated Ganesha idol in a cargo vehicle and immersed it in the Kottaikulam pond. The sequence of events led to mild unrest and tension in Kudaiparaipatti.

(With inputs from Daily Thanthi)

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The post Vinayagar Chaturthi Procession Banned In Dindigul, Hindu Munnani Members Arrested For Defying appeared first on The Commune.

A serious clash broke out between Hindu devotees and members of the Christian community during the Kaliamman temple festival in Vakkampatti, Dindigul district. The tension arose when a group of Christians objected to the temple chariot passing along a public road in front of a church.

The situation escalated after a heated argument between the two groups, with some sitting on a dharna (protest). Despite the police attempting to mediate the issue for over three hours, the road was blocked by one side. During this standoff, a scuffle broke out, and one person reportedly fainted. Following this, it is alleged that the police used force against Hindu devotees instead of taking action against those obstructing the procession.

The incident has sparked wider outrage, raising concerns about the interference of religious institutions in public and traditional Hindu practices.

Responding to the issue, senior Tamil Nadu BJP leader H Raja issued a strong statement condemning both the obstruction and the police response. He said, “The Christians have created disturbance by obstructing the chariot procession path of the Kali temple festival in Vakkampatti, Dindigul district, stating that the chariot should not pass through the route where a church is located. In response, Hindus objected and continued to pull the chariot. Angered by this, Christians attacked the Hindus. At that time, instead of providing appropriate protection by allowing the chariot to proceed, the police have brutally attacked the Hindus instead of taking action against the Christians who attacked the Hindus. The act of the police unleashing a beast-like frenzied attack on Hindus is highly condemnable. Furthermore, after attacking and chasing away the Hindus, the police themselves pulled the temple chariot, which is also strongly condemnable.”

H Raja also recalled a similar incident in the same village last year. When an elderly Hindu woman passed away, Christians reportedly blocked the funeral procession near the church. A petition was filed by the Hindu community in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, which promptly ordered the local administration to provide security and allow the funeral rites to proceed. The court also directed that the public road be paved to avoid such tensions in the future.

He added, “Also, in Vakkampatti last year, when an elderly woman passed away, Christians caused a commotion by blocking the route in front of the church, preventing the body from being taken for the funeral. In response, Hindus filed a petition with the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. Following that, the court condemned those who obstructed the funeral procession and ordered the local administration to immediately provide adequate security arrangements so that the final rites of the deceased woman could be conducted peacefully. Furthermore, despite a long-standing request from Hindus to convert the public road into a tar road to prevent this problem from recurring, the district administration and the Tamil Nadu government have not yet taken any action in response to the Hindus’ request. While the affected Hindus have filed a case in court demanding that the existing public road be converted into a tar road, and even after the court recognized the seriousness of the situation and issued an order for the same, both the district administration and the Tamil Nadu government have failed to implement it.”

Calling out the DMK’s bias and vote-bank politics favoring minorities, H Raja slammed saying, “Under the DMK rule, Hindus are being treated like second-class citizens, which is strongly condemnable. It is unacceptable that in pursuit of the Christian vote bank, the DMK government is causing injustice to the Hindus of Vakkampatti village in Dindigul district. I urge the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr. @mkstalin, to pay immediate attention to this issue, listen to the rightful demands of the affected people of Vakkampatti village, and ensure that the just demands of the Hindus are fulfilled without any further delay.”

திண்டுக்கல் மாவட்டம், வக்கம்பட்டியில் உள்ள காளி கோவில் திருவிழாவிற்கு தேர் செல்லும் பாதையில் சர்ச் இருப்பதால் அவ்வழியாக தேர் செல்லக்கூடாது என கிறித்தவர்கள் தடை ஏற்படுத்தி பிரச்சனை செய்துள்ளனர். அதற்கு ஆட்சேபனை தெரிவித்து இந்துக்கள் தொடர்ந்நு தேரை இழுத்துள்ளனர். ஆத்திரமடைந்த… pic.twitter.com/PbuLfqAzL0

— H Raja (@HRajaBJP) May 31, 2025

(With inputs from Tamil Janam)

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The post ‘Hindus Treated Like Second-Class Citizens In DMK Rule’: Christian Group Objects To Vakkampatti Temple Chariot Passing Resulting In Tensions, BJP’s H Raja Blasts Stalin Govt For Biased Police Action appeared first on The Commune.

In a major crackdown on illegal employment and identity fraud, 29 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested on 24 May 2025 from a private textile mill located in Vagarai village, near Oddanchatram in Dindigul district. The arrests followed a tip-off that non-Indian citizens were working in the facility using forged identification documents.

A team led by Oddanchatram DSP Karthikeyan and Inspector Thangaraj conducted a surprise inspection at the mill, which manufactures inner garments primarily for export. The unit, operating under contract-based employment, had hired workers from various Indian states including Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal.

During the inspection, it was discovered that 29 individuals were illegally residing and working at the mill while possessing fake Aadhaar cards to impersonate Indian citizens. The men were detained, medically examined, and had their biometric data collected before being produced before the Oddanchatram Magistrate Court, which remanded them to judicial custody.

Police sources revealed that this is the first recorded instance of foreign nationals being employed in such a manner in the area, where most mills typically hire Indian workers from other states. The Bangladeshi workers were reportedly housed in dormitory-style accommodations within the mill premises.

A case has been registered by the Kallimandayam police under relevant charges including possession of fake identification. Senior officials from the district administration have initiated steps to ensure that all mills and commercial establishments provide full disclosure of non-local workers on their rolls.

Investigations are ongoing to trace the agents responsible for facilitating the illegal employment and document forgery.

(With inputs from The Hindu)

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The post Tamil Nadu: 29 Illegal Bangladeshi Nationals Arrested From Dindigul Textile Mill, Had Used Fake Aadhaar Cards appeared first on The Commune.

The Hindu Munnani has strongly criticized the ruling DMK government after allegations emerged that a local party functionary in Dindigul had encroached upon land belonging to a 100-year-old temple dedicated to Kaliyamman, Mariyamman, and Bhagavathi Amman in Boothamarathupatti near Pallapatti.

According to reports, Gunasekaran, the local DMK branch secretary, has laid claim to property within the temple premises—specifically, a cultural hall stage intended for staging the traditional ‘Valli Thirumanam’ play during the ongoing temple festival. This festival began on 20 May with preparatory activities, including the construction of ceremonial structures.

Local residents and devotees have opposed this move and lodged formal complaints with both the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department and the Dindigul Taluk Police Station. However, no action has reportedly been taken, allegedly due to the political influence of the accused.

In protest, over 50 people, including women, gathered at the police station, accusing authorities of failing to protect temple property and hindering the conduct of traditional religious events. Police eventually dispersed the crowd after holding discussions.

The temple, which falls under the jurisdiction of the HR&CE Department, has reportedly been targeted by Gunasekaran and his family, who allegedly formed a private trust two years ago in an effort to gain control of temple assets.

Hindu Munnani took to its official X account to question the silence of HR&CE Minister P.K. Sekar Babu. The organization demanded to know whether the minister, who frequently claims credit for reclaiming thousands of acres of temple land across Tamil Nadu, would intervene in this case as well.

Hindu Munnani stated, “DMK members have encroached upon temple land… Will Minister Sekar Babu speak up? The department minister falsely claims in acres that thousands of acres of temple land have been recovered, will he take steps to reclaim this temple land?”

“There is a 100-year-old temple dedicated to Kaliyamman, Mariyamman, and Bhagavathi Amman in Boothamarathupatti area of Pallapatti, in Dindigul district. This temple is under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. Gunasekaran, the local DMK branch secretary, has been involved in attempts to seize temple property. Currently, the DMK functionary is claiming that the drama stage inside the temple’s cultural hall—meant for the important play of Valli Thirumanam during the temple festival belongs to him. Although a complaint has been filed with the HR&CE Department, no action has been taken since the accused belongs to the DMK. When the public and devotees gathered and staged a protest at the Dindigul Taluk Police Station demanding recovery of the encroached temple land, the police pacified and sent them away. Both the HR&CE Department and the police remain silent because the person involved is a member of the ruling party. Will the minister, who falsely boasts about recovering thousands of acres of temple land, take any action to recover this particular temple land?” the post read.

கோவில் நிலத்தை ஆக்கிரமித்த திமுகவினர்…

வாய் திறப்பரா? அமைச்சர் சேகர்பாபு..

ஆயிரக்கணக்கான கோவில் நிலங்களை மீட்டோம் என ஏக்கர் கணக்கில் பொய் சொல்லும் துறை அமைச்சர்

இந்த கோயில் நிலத்தை மீட்க நடவடிக்கை எடுப்பாரா?

திண்டுக்கல் மாவட்டம், பள்ளப்பட்டி பூதமரத்துப்பட்டியில் 100… pic.twitter.com/9uBefb65FK

— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) May 26, 2025

The inaction by the HR&CE Department and local police has fueled concerns over the protection of temple properties, especially when politically connected individuals are involved.

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The post ‘Will Sekar Babu Speak Up?’ Asks Hindu Munnani As HR&CE Dept Silent Over Alleged Land Encroachment Of Century-Old Temple By DMK Functionary In Dindigul appeared first on The Commune.