On Tuesday, a man who the police claim is mentally challenged vandalized Nayanmar idols at Avinashi Lingeshwarar Temple in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruppur district. According to local police, the incident began as a theft attempt, and when the accused was unable to find any valuables inside the temples, he became enraged and attacked the idols.
Sri Karunambikai Udanamar Avinasi Lingeswarar Temple in Avinasi, Tirupur District, is one of Tamil Nadu’s oldest temples. It is the first of the seven Lord Shiva temples in the Kongu region, and it is a historical site where Sundarar sang Pathikam to bring a child back to life after being swallowed by a crocodile.
A theft attempt was made last night (May 22) on this auspicious temple. During this incident, the Nayanmar idols at the temple were vandalized, and a copper ‘vel’ (a weapon) was stolen.
The incident was first noticed by temple priests, who noticed that the temple’s main deity Lingeswarar’s dress had been desecrated. Sivacharyaas, Shivanadiyars, and other temple priests who were shocked to see this reported the incident to the police. Subsequently, the police headed by Avinasi DSP Paulraj rushed to the Avinasi temple and investigated the matter.
During the investigation, police and devotees heard a noise coming from the temple tower. When the police got there, they discovered a young man in his early thirties trying to hide himself. The individual was apprehended, and based on CCTV footage, it turned out that it was the same person who desecrated the statues. Based on the investigation, the accused was identified as Saravanabharathi, 32, of Savakkatupalayam, near Avinasi in Tirupur district. According to the police, Saravanabharathi moved to Savakkatupalayam 10 years ago and worked as a driver before moving on to other jobs at juice shops and textile companies. The police also revealed that the person who desecrated the statues was mentally challenged. This raised several concerns that the police were attempting to downplay the incident, as in previous incidents where important political figures’ statues and temple idols were desecrated, the police labeled the accused as mentally challenged.
Devotees and netizens raised several doubts about the accused, claiming that the police were once again peddling their usual ‘mentally challenged’ narrative.
👉🏽இது இந்துக்கோவில் என தெரிகிறது.
👉🏽அந்த கோவில் வாசல் தெரிகிறது.
👉🏽அந்த வாசலிலே இருக்கும் பூட்டை உடைக்க தெரிகிறது.
👉🏽உடைக்கமுடியாவிடில் சுவர் ஏறி குதிக்க தெரிகிறது.
👉🏽குதித்து சரியாக உண்டியல் இருக்கும் இடம் போக தெரிகிறது.
👉🏽உண்டியலை உடைத்து திருட தெரிகிறது. pic.twitter.com/pFYYxXNzV2— Indu Makkal Katchi (Offl) 🇮🇳 (@Indumakalktchi) May 23, 2023
Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai slammed the MK Stalin-led DMK government and demanded appropriate action against the accused. Annamalai said, “After DMK came to power, temples are being attacked and people’s beliefs are being hurt. But, none of the real culprits seem to be arrested. It seems that the attempt to dilute the crime by claiming that those arrested are mentally ill continues. If the safety of the temples cannot be ensured, then what is the purpose of the Hindu religious endowment department and the minister?”
He further added, “I urge the Tamil Nadu Police to immediately arrest the real culprits and take appropriate action. People’s patience has a limit. I would like to inform you that the DMK government will be responsible for the consequences if temples continue to be attacked like this.”
நேற்று நள்ளிரவு, திருப்பூர் அவிநாசிலிங்கேஸ்வரர் கோவிலுக்குள் சமூக விரோதிகள் புகுந்து, சாமி சிலைகளை உடைத்து சேதப்படுத்தியுள்ளனர்.
திமுக ஆட்சிக்கு வந்தபின், கோவில்கள் தாக்கப்படுவதும், மக்களின் நம்பிக்கைகளைப் புண்படுத்துவதும் தொடர்கிறது. ஆனால், உண்மையான குற்றவாளிகள் யாரும் கைது…
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) May 23, 2023
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