Hindus at Lingamalai in Tamil Nadu have accused the state government of failing to protect a 1,000-year-old temple and its land from alleged encroachment by Christian groups, despite repeated petitions to revenue officials and an earlier order directing the removal of a cross installed at the site.
According to a local Hindu representative, the temple dates back to the Rajaraja Chola era and contains inscriptions and historical records establishing its antiquity. He said the temple had fallen into ruin but was subsequently restored as a place of worship, with devotees resuming regular pujas, including worship during Pournami girivalam.
He alleged that Christian missionaries were attempting to obstruct these religious activities and prevent Hindus from worshipping at the site. According to him, the Revenue Department had granted a patta for the temple itself, but officials had failed to act on repeated complaints regarding the alleged encroachment.
The representative said that more than 100 petitions had been submitted to the District Collector and Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO). He added that they had also appeared for an inquiry before the RDO and participated in a peace committee meeting, but no effective action had followed.
He further alleged that, despite an understanding at the peace committee meeting that neither side should enter the disputed area and create disturbances, the Christian group had installed a cross, constructed a pathway and put up lamps at the location.
He stated that the dispute over the cross dated back nearly 20 years and that the then Tahsildar had signed a document directing its removal. However, he alleged that the order had never been implemented despite repeated representations over the past 10 to 15 years.
The representative also alleged that a kodimaram (temple flagstaff) had been installed on government patta land in the village and that the authorities had ignored petitions opposing it.
Accusing the government of acting against Hindu devotees who questioned the alleged encroachment while failing to take action against those carrying out the activities, he said that the temple’s historical inscriptions and other records established its antiquity. He alleged that the authorities were disregarding these records while allowing the disputed activities to continue.
He further stated that Hindus were a minority in the village and that the Christian community was numerically dominant, making it difficult for local devotees to protect the temple and its lands.
The representative appealed to the government to implement the earlier order concerning the removal of the cross, protect the temple and its properties, and allow Hindus to continue their traditional worship without obstruction.
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