In a major fire accident suspected to be carried out by a Muslim fundamentalist group, timber worth more than a crore was destroyed. The shop was owned by a Vishwa Hindu Parishad member in the Tenkasi district. In the newly carved Tenkasi district, VHP opened a new office three days ago. In Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts, the Muslim fundamentalists' group's presence is visible while SDPI, PFI and other parties are reportedly active with official blessings.
In Puliyankudi, On the 26th night, miscreants set fire to a timber shop owned by VHP functionary of that area. In the mishap, goods worth more than a crore, stored in Subbulakshmi Timber Depot, were burnt to ashes. Azhagu has been running the timber business since his grandfather's days, in which his father-in-law Muthu Saravanan was also a partner. Azhagu has been involved in VHP activities since its early days and became the District President of VHP only last month. He made efforts to open an office in that area as the trade body was under the control of Muslims and would not come to the rescue of Hindu traders if they needed to. Muslims did not like the launch of the Hindu trade body and the successful opening of the VHP office. Unable to bear this, on 26th midnight, miscreants scaled the compound wall and threw petrol bombs. In that mishap, timbers, including teak worth one crore, was destroyed. Police are yet to arrest the culprits despite CCTV footage. It is a clear case of sabotage, as only a Hindu owned shop was targeted. Before throwing petrol bombs, the miscreants cut the power supply in the area. BJP MLA Nainar Nagendran visited the spot and consoled the owner. VHP and BJP have urged the TN government to compensate the Timber shop owner and slap Goondas act on the culprits. If the police failed to take action, the party would organize mega protests demanding justice.
In a recent incident, DMK goons vandalized the BJP office in Manja Nayakkan Patti in the Dindigul district. A group of people believed to be the supporters of DMK Minister Chakrapani entered the BJP office and damaged the furniture and other things in the office. Later, they attacked the functionaries and threatened them with dire consequences. The BJP cadre quickly rushed to the spot on hearing the news, and the DMK goons ran for cover. District BJP president Palani Kanagaraj said the party office would function 24×7. Condemning the attack, BJP cadres led by Prof. Rama Srinivasan held a protest in Ottanchatram. Instead of arresting the goons who attacked the BJP office, police arrested the BJP cadre who took part in the protest against the attack.
Sitting DMK MP TRVS Ramesh was booked for the murder of a factory worker who has surrendered after going underground for over three weeks. Another Tirunelveli Lok Sabha MP, S. Gnanathiraviam, wanted in connection with the murderous attack on BJP functionary, is still at large. BJP functionary Baskaran claimed he was manhandled and assaulted early this month. It is alleged that Baskaran spoke ill about DMK MP Gnanathriraviam during the local body election campaign. The MP confronted him at a tea shop to ask about the defamatory comments during the poll campaigns, which resulted in a heated exchange of words between him and Baskaran. According to Baskaran, the DMK MP made a murderous attack on him besides threatening him with dire consequences. The injured Baskaran, out of fear, did not go to any hospital for treatment but went home directly with bleeding. The next morning, on hearing the attack, BJP cadre and advocates took him to Tirunelveli government medical college and got him admitted after a protest.
The state BJP chief, K. Annamalai, condemned the brutal attack on party functionaries. Former Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan told the media," Gnanathiraviam threatened the party functionaries of opposition parties during the local body election. The MP has laid the foundation stone for the resurgence of clashes that the Tirunelveli district had witnessed in the 1990s." Demanding the arrest of the DMK leader and including murder charges, he held an agitation, and the police detained the MP. Gnanathiraviam, who is still at large, fearing arrest earlier, denied his involvement in the assault case and that Pon Radhakrishnan was just politicizing the issue. Vlogger Maridhas released some documents which threw light on DMK MP's sudden rise and growth of wealth in an unbelievable magnitude. The MP is accused of converting Hindus into Christianity. "His family's wealth in various businesses registered a quantum jump. In short, he is a criminal with cow's skin," say locals.
