An attack by a gang of alleged ganja addicts on visitors at the popular Veedur Dam in Villupuram district created widespread panic on 14 October 2025.

According to reports, the incident occurred at the well-known tourist destination, which attracts visitors from various parts of Tamil Nadu, especially during weekends and holidays. The location is also frequented by college students and couples seeking privacy. Locals said the area has recently witnessed several instances of harassment, where visitors, particularly couples were intimidated and chased away by miscreants.

On the day of the incident, a group of three men allegedly under the influence of ganja arrived at the dam and began arguing with people present in the area. Eyewitnesses and residents claimed that the gang, believed to have been operating from a nearby cannabis haunt, became violent and attacked the public.

Four people were reportedly stabbed during the assault, and the gang is said to have robbed the victims of their cash and belongings. The canteen owner at the site, who tried to intervene when a student was targeted, was also brutally attacked. All five injured individuals have been admitted to intensive care units for treatment.

The Vikravandi police have launched a manhunt and formed two special teams to trace and apprehend the three accused men. Local residents expressed shock and outrage over the violence, demanding stricter surveillance and better policing at the tourist spot to ensure public safety.

(Source: Thanthi TV)

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Dravidian Model: Gang Of Ganja-Addicted Men Attack Visitors At Villupuram’s Veedur Dam appeared first on The Commune.

(With Inputs From TNIE)

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Live Wire Snaps After Heavy Rain In Villupuram’s Gingee Area, Two Brothers Electrocuted appeared first on The Commune.

A dramatic scene unfolded at a Naam Thamizhar Katchi (NTK) public meeting in Senji, Villupuram district, on Sunday when the party’s chief coordinator Seeman abruptly walked off the stage, sparking confusion among supporters and onlookers.

The meeting had been organised by NTK to protest against UNESCO’s recognition of Senji Fort, a historic landmark. Party members argued that the fort was being attributed to the Marathas, which they claimed amounted to the erasure of Tamil history and heritage.

Addressing a large gathering, Seeman spoke strongly against what he described as a “distortion” of Tamil identity in historical narratives. The situation, however, took a chaotic turn when local journalists approached Seeman for comments while he was on stage. NTK’s security personnel reportedly tried to block the media from reaching him, leading to an altercation.

Witnesses said the scuffle created tension in the crowd, drawing the attention of police officers who were present at the venue to oversee security arrangements. Believing that a clash had erupted between police and his own security team, Seeman appeared visibly alarmed.

In a sudden move, he rushed off the stage, leaving the gathering stunned. His hurried exit triggered a commotion among party members and supporters, who scrambled to understand the situation. When questioned later, NTK functionaries sought to downplay the incident.

They explained that Seeman had misunderstood the scene as a potential confrontation between police and NTK personnel. The dramatic walkout overshadowed the purpose of the meeting, which had been called to highlight NTK’s opposition to the official narrative of Senji Fort’s origins.

The party has long maintained that the historic fort stands as a symbol of Tamil pride, and attributing its construction to the Marathas undermines the region’s heritage. Despite the disruption, NTK leaders vowed to continue their campaign against what they call attempts to “rewrite Tamil history”.

The incident, however, has once again underlined the volatile atmosphere surrounding Tamil identity politics in the state.

-IANS

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Chaos At NTK Rally: Seeman Walks Off Stage In Villupuram Protest Meeting appeared first on The Commune.

Tamil Nadu Police have arrested Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) executive for Sexual Harassment of Woman.

Abdul Hakeem, managing director of a company and state treasurer of the economic wing of Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK), has been arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a woman employed at a private fertilizer manufacturing firm in Ayankovilpattu near Villupuram.

Police investigations indicate that Abdul Hakeem sent inappropriate messages via WhatsApp and is accused of sexually harassing over ten women.

(With Inputs From Polimer News)

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post TN Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam Executive Abdul Hakeem Arrested By Tamil Nadu Police For Sexually Harassing Women appeared first on The Commune.

A group of sanitation workers organized a sit-in protest at the Villupuram Municipal Office, calling for the release of long-pending welfare funds.

Villupuram Municipality employs 97 permanent sanitation workers across its 42 wards. A portion of their salaries is regularly deducted for future welfare benefits, which are typically disbursed twice a year. However, on 18 June 2025, around 11:00 a.m, the workers gathered at the Municipal Office in a sudden protest, accusing officials of mishandling their welfare contributions.

Speaking to reporters, one of the women sanitation workers said with frustration, “The officials have misappropriated ₹12 crore by involving and using a man named Vinith, who has no role here. We’ve been working here for 20 years, but they’ve never shown us any accounts— there is nothing other than salary. If we ask for accounts, they do not give us. They are enslaving us. They are not providing us slippers, gloves, and not even soap, they are simply enslaving us. We need immediate action. They should be held accountable. Even after 20 years, they won’t show us how much we have in our PF. We do not have PF. The officials are enslaving us saying we don’t work, that only contractors do. The contract should be stopped.”

12 கோடியை தூக்கிய அதிகாரிகள்..? எந்த கணக்கும் இல்ல..? பாதுகாப்பு உபகரணங்கள் கூட தரல..? போராட்டத்தில் குதித்த தூய்மை பணியாளர்கள்..!#Villupuram #Frontlineworkers #Protest #CorporationOffice #Dharna #TamilNews #NewsTamil #NewsTamil24x7 pic.twitter.com/7jVa5ZRpja

— News Tamil 24×7 (@NewsTamilTV24x7) June 18, 2025

Upon being alerted, Villupuram West Police arrived at the scene and initiated dialogue with the protestors. The workers explained that they were in financial distress as the welfare funds had not been released for the past three years. Despite repeatedly submitting petitions to the municipal administration, they claimed no steps had been taken to resolve the issue. Protesters chanted slogans, demanding the immediate release of the funds owed to them.

Municipal Officer Sripriya addressed the protestors, assuring them that she would consult with senior municipal authorities and expedite the disbursement process. Following this assurance, the sanitation workers ended their protest and peacefully dispersed.

(With inputs from Dinamalar)

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post 20 Years Of Service, No Benefits: Villupuram Sanitation Workers Stage Sit-In Over Pending Welfare Funds appeared first on The Commune.

Demolition work is currently underway at the 45-year-old Bhuvaneswari Amman Temple in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu. The operation is being carried out by officials from the municipality and the revenue department, acting in accordance with an order issued by the Madras High Court.

The legal proceedings leading to the demolition began when a local resident named Shanmugam filed a petition in the High Court, alleging that the temple structure had blocked the access road to his residence. After hearing the case, the court directed the authorities to remove the temple.

Following the court’s directive, officials have commenced the demolition process. Visuals from the site show ongoing work to bring down the structure, which has stood in the area for over four decades.

The move has sparked concern and discussion among locals, with many reacting to the removal of a longstanding religious site. However, authorities maintain that the action is being carried out strictly in compliance with judicial instructions.

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Demolition Of 45-Year-Old Bhuvaneshwari Amman Temple Underway In Villupuram Following High Court Order appeared first on The Commune.

Part-time politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party is once again embroiled in controversy following allegations from party executives. They claim that the high command is soliciting monetary payments from individuals seeking various positions within the party, with State General Secretary Anand reportedly turning a blind eye to the complaints.

Speaking to reporters in Villupuram, Seeman Kumaresan, a TVK executive claimed that Kushi Mohan, the South Villupuram District Secretary, is demanding sums ranging from ₹3 to ₹15 lakh for city and district positions. The executives further accused the party of offering positions to individuals with no prior affiliation to TVK or fan club. They also alleged that the amount solicited with the full awareness of Anand, and accused him of preventing leader Vijay from being informed about the issue.

TVK executive Kumaresan stated, “Villupuram District Secretary Mohan is demanding money for all positions. He asked me ₹4 lakh for the post of district executive member. Here’s the proof. I first met Thalapathy in 1995 during the filming of Vishnu. I’m a ardent fan of Thalapathy and have been involved since the days of Vijay Makkal Iyakkam. Similar to me, he has asked everyone for money in exchange for posts. When I questioned him about why he’s demanding money like this, he said ‘The leadership demands it.’ When I asked, ‘Who is the leadership, Vijay?’ he replied, ‘No’.” 

Kumaresan then showed evidence of a demand draft cheque from a person named Ilayaraja, explaining that he was interviewed and selected for the post of city secretary. However, Kushi Mohan, the South Villupuram District Secretary, denied him the position and gave it to another person named Mubarq, who had come from the DMK. Kumaresan also mentioned another individual who had requested the post of East District Secretary and, despite donating a sewing machine for welfare assistance on the 19th, was also asked for an additional ₹50,000 by Kushi Mohan.

During the press conference, Kumaresan raised a question about who exactly is demanding the money. When he was told it was the party leadership, he asked if Vijay was the one requesting the money, to which the answer was no. He then questioned, “If not Vijay, then who exactly is this leadership?”

#JUSTIN || "தவெகவில் பணம் கொடுத்தால்தான் பதவி"#justin | #Villapuram | #tvk | #money | #Administrators | #BussyAnand | #tamiljanam pic.twitter.com/D3kUcGtWOb

— Tamil Janam (@TamilJanamNews) March 26, 2025

In a dramatic gesture during the press conference, the executives tore up the cheque that had been used to pay for a TVK position, underscoring their frustration with the situation.

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Cash For Posts: Executives Of Part-Time Politician Vijay’s TVK Party Accuse Leadership Of Demanding Money For City & District Positions appeared first on The Commune.

In a distressing incident in Villupuram, a couple was forced to bring their disabled son in a Corrugated plastic box to the Collector’s office to prove he was alive after authorities wrongly declared him dead and stopped his disability allowance, citing fraudulent claims.

District Collector Sheikh Abdul Rahman has assured that necessary steps have been taken to reinstate the maintenance allowance for V. Govindan, a disabled resident of Melkaranai village, Vikravandi taluk, Villupuram district, along with his sister.

On 17 March 2025, Venkatesan, a laborer from Melkaranai, accompanied by his wife Kaliammal and their mentally challenged son, Govindan (25), arrived at the District Collectorate to submit a petition. In his appeal, Venkatesan stated that the monthly maintenance allowance for Govindan had been unfairly discontinued, and he pleaded for its restoration.

விழுப்புரம்: மாற்றுத்திறனாளிக்கு ஆதார் அட்டை, உதவித்தொகை, ஊனமுற்றோருக்கான வாகனம் உள்ளிட்டவை வழங்காமல் அலைக்கழித்த அதிகாரிகள்.. பாதிக்கப்பட்டவரை பிளாஸ்டிக் கூடையில் அமர வைத்து ஆட்சியர் அலுவலகத்திற்கு அழைத்து வந்த குடும்பத்தினர்#Villupuram #TamilNadu @DDNewslive pic.twitter.com/4UhrHsVV3X

— DD Tamil News (@DDTamilNews) March 17, 2025

Upon receiving the petition, District Collector Sheikh Abdul Rahman immediately directed officials to investigate. The inquiry revealed that Govindan and his sister, Bhuvaneswari, who is also mentally challenged, had their maintenance allowances deposited into their father’s linked bank account. However, due to a double Aadhaar registration error, payments for Bhuvaneswari were stopped in February 2025, while Govindan’s were halted in November 2024 under the false assumption that he was deceased.

After bringing the issue to the attention of the Disability Welfare Commission, Collector Sheikh Abdul Rahman confirmed that corrective measures had been taken to resume the financial assistance for both siblings. Additionally, an immediate relief amount of ₹6,000 and ₹12,000 was provided to them.

Following the incident, netizens criticized the government’s inaction, questioning the lethargy of officials. They also raised concerns about the $162 million World Bank sanction for the RIGHTS project, which was approved to enhance Tamil Nadu’s social protection systems and improve inclusion, accessibility, and opportunities for people with disabilities.

Netizens urged the government to take more meaningful action, emphasizing that there needs to be a shift in attitudes toward the treatment of people with disabilities. They highlighted the need for a more empathetic approach to addressing the challenges faced by the differently-abled community.

(With Inputs From Dinamalar)

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Disabled Son’s Allowance Cut After False Death Report; Parents Carry Him In Plastic Box To Prove He Is Alive, Collector Promises Justice appeared first on The Commune.

Four individuals were arrested today at the Villupuram New Bus Stand after police discovered they were carrying hawala money worth ₹1.60 crore. Sudhakar and Murugavel, two policemen on patrol near the bus stand, became suspicious when they noticed the four youths walking around with a suspicious bag.

The police stopped the individuals for questioning, and they all gave different answers, and during the investigation, it was revealed that the money had been brought from Chennai by train. The suspects had planned to get off at the Villupuram railway station and transport the cash to Trichy by bus.

The arrested individuals—identified as Mohammed Riyaz, Sirajuddin, Abubakar Siddique, and Raja Muhammad—are from the Varaganeri area of Trichy. They were acting as couriers for the hawala operation. The police have taken them to the Taluka police station for further questioning.

Authorities are now investigating the intended recipient of the money, which was reportedly picked up from the Broadway area in Chennai.

(With inputs from Puthiya Thalaimurai)

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Mohammed Riyaz, Sirajuddin, Abubakar Siddique, & Raja Muhammad Arrested With ₹1.60 Crore Hawala Money At Villupuram Bus Stand appeared first on The Commune.

Villagers staged a protest on the Chennai-Trichy National Highway, alleging police harassment following an incident where DMK Minister Ponmudi was attacked with mud during a Cyclone Fengal relief visit.

In December 2024, following the Fengal cyclone, a group of individuals allegedly attacked DMK Minister Ponmudi with mud during his visit to Villupuram, to distribute relief materials and assess the flood situation caused by the cyclone. They threw mud at him, staining his white shirt. The incident quickly went viral on social media, with initial reports suggesting that locals expressed anger at the Minister’s presence.

விழுப்புரத்தில் போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ள மக்களிடம் பேச்சுவார்த்தை நடத்த சென்ற திமுக அமைச்சர் பொன்முடி மீது அப்பகுதி மக்கள் சேற்றை வாரி வீசியதாக தகவல் !#Ponmudi #FengalCyclone #DMKFailsTN pic.twitter.com/I0rK533BTX

— Bagavath Pratheep (@Bagavathprathee) December 3, 2024

The mud-throwing took place after Ponmudi arrived in Villupuram as part of the state government’s relief efforts following Cyclone Fengal, which struck the region on 30 November 2024. The cyclone caused widespread damage in Villupuram, breaking over 10 lakes, washing away culverts and roads, and submerging thousands of houses. Agricultural lands were also severely impacted, displacing many people.

Following the cyclone’s destruction, Chief Minister Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin visited flood-affected areas like Marakkanam to provide relief. Ponmudi, along with other officials, visited Iruvelpattu on the Villupuram-Trichy National Highway, where floodwaters severely damaged roads. It was during this visit that his car was blocked by angry residents who were frustrated with the delayed response.

The protesters, who had staged a road blockade, voiced their displeasure with the government’s relief efforts and questioned why officials had not arrived sooner. Police intervened, urging them to clear the blockade. Ponmudi and other officials briefly inspected the affected areas before leaving under pressure.

However, police sources alleged that the assailant was not a resident but Rama alias Ramakrishnan, a 24-year-old BJP sympathizer. Ramar alias Ramachandran is reportedly connected to the BJP, and his sister, Siddhi Vijayarani, is associated with the party. Authorities are investigating whether the incident was politically motivated.

Villagers Harassed By Police

Polimer News reported that the police have been visiting their homes day and night in the name of investigation and the family members allege harassment from the police. Relatives claim they are being harassed by police, who are reportedly threatening family members when the two “accused” are not at home. The police’s actions have drawn protests from villagers, who staged a demonstration on the Chennai-Trichy National Highway, disrupting traffic for over half an hour. The police held talks with the people staging the road blockade. When the protesters refused to disperse, the police attempted to arrest them. However, the women fought with the police and managed to rescue the youth.

The police also tried to drag an elderly man, who was pleading with them not to harm anyone, and attempted to put him in a police vehicle. The women intervened and rescued him as well. When the police entered the village as a group, an old woman, frightened by their presence, pleaded with them, saying, “Sir, these are our children, they have not made any mistake, please let them go.” As a result of the protest, traffic on the Chennai-Trichy National Highway was disrupted for half an hour.

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Police Initiate Action Against Village Residents Who Threw Mud And Expressed Angst Against DMK Minister Ponmudi During Fengal Cyclone Inspection appeared first on The Commune.