TN officials seal temple for barring entry to Dalits

Chennai, June 7 (BPNS)

 The Tamil Nadu revenue officials sealed the Dharmaraja Droupadi Amman temple in Melpathi village of Villupuram district on Wednesday. 

The  revenue officials took the action as  caste Hindus had barred entry to people belonging to the Adi Dravidar community. This led to a tense situation in the area and possible escalation of law and order conditions in the area.

The temple was sealed  by the Villupuram Revenue Divisional Officer, S. Ravichandran under Section 145(1) of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in order to prevent any escalating law and order situation if any.

The temple is located on government porambokku land and has been in the control of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) department for the past 45 years.

Local Dalit people who do not want to be named while speaking to BPNS said,” A section of the temple administration is equally responsible for our plight in not being able to enter the temple. This section is hand in glove with upper caste people in barring our entry to the temple.”

The officials however said that eight rounds of discussions were held with the caste Hindus and Adi Dravidars and the situation remained the same. There were reports of Adi Dravidars forcefully entering the temple and the caste Hindu’s fully prepared to oppose them.

An official with the HR&CE department while speaking to BPNS said, “ The situation was getting out of control and the caste Hindus have stated that the presiding deity was their ‘Kuladaivam’. This would have erupted more fights and hence the revenue officials intervened and shut down the temple.”

Criminal cases were registered at Valavanur police station against people from both sides in the wake of a dispute in the entry to the temple.

The RDO has asked both sides to present their argument before his office in Villupuram on Friday. The official also said that no members from both the sides would be permitted inside the temple till the impasse ends.

A heavy police contingent is camping in the area to prevent any untoward incident.