In a horrific incident, inebriated thugs hacked to death an employee of a Hindu temple who had asked them not to drink alcohol on the temple premises.
Krishnan, 55, who hails from the Melachewal area of Tirunelveli district, was doing maintenance work as a temporary employee at the ancient Navaneethakrishna Swamy temple.
On 15 January 2023 (Pongal day), Krishnan finished the usual poojas at the temple and returned home to celebrate the Pongal festival. However, he returned to the temple in the evening to take care of some pending work. At the time, some thugs from the same area, including the main accused Kombaiya, were drinking alcohol inside the temple premises. Enraged, Krishna requested them not to drink inside the temple and urged them to get out. Kombaiya and his friends argued with Krishnan and told him that they will drink only in the temple premises. A heated quarrel culminated in a fistfight.
Later, Kombaiya and other inebriated thugs took out a sickle they had hidden and slashed Krishna near a barrage before fleeing. Krishna, who lay still in a pool of blood, was rescued by neighbors and taken to Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital for treatment.
However, Krishna died succumbing to his injuries. This murder incident has sparked public outrage in Tirunelveli. The Munneerpallam police have registered a case, arrested seven people, and are conducting an extensive investigation.
Meanwhile, Krishna’s relatives and villagers have been protesting for three days, demanding a government job and compensation for one of the deceased family members, while refusing to accept his body. The police officers attempted to negotiate with them but were unsuccessful. Heavy police security has been put in place in Melachewal and at the Tirunelveli Government Medical Hospital campus.
Coming down heavy on the DMK government, Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai said that the murder hughlighted the plight of law and order in the state.
In a social media post Annamalai said, “The Hindu Religious And Charity Endowments department employee Krishnan from Nellai Melachewal village was hacked to death inside the temple premises after he asked not to sit on the wall of the temple and drink alcohol. This is an example of how law and order have deteriorated in Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, the HR&CE Department, which is supposed to prevent irregularities and illegal activities in temples, is only interested in the temples’ money and ignores the basic facilities and security that temples require.”
He further added,”The opening of liquor shops across Tamil Nadu has led to youth committing such crimes. Minister Sekarbabu should prioritize the security of the temple’s staff and property over pleasing the Gopalapura family. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin should also provide immediate assistance to the family of the deceased temple employee. In addition, I am insisting on behalf of Tamil Nadu BJP that the government should provide jobs to his two sons.”
நெல்லை மேலச்செவல் கிராமத்தைச் சேர்ந்த இந்து சமய அறநிலையத்துறை கோவில் ஊழியர் திரு கிருஷ்ணன், கோவில் சுற்றுச் சுவரில் அமர்ந்து மது அருந்தியதை தட்டிக் கேட்டதால், கோவில் வளாகத்துக்குள்ளேயே வெட்டிக் கொலை செய்யப்பட்ட சம்பவம் அதிர்ச்சியளிக்கிறது. (1/5)
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) January 18, 2023
(With inputs from Mediyaan)
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