The Mayiladuthurai District functionary of the Hindu Munnani, Swaminathan, has officially sought the assistance of the District Collector in order to address the escalating dispute surrounding the purportedly unlawful conversion of a residential house in Villiyanallur village, Kuttalam taluk, into a church. The complaint alleges bias and inaction on the part of the local Tahsildar and Circle Inspector, and requests action against both. Additionally, ask the officer to intervene against the Christian missionary place of worship that was built on a body of water in defiance of National Green Tribunal orders.
According to the complaint, the matter dates back to March 27, when Swaminathan, a member of Hindu Munnani, first reported the conversion to Kuttalam Circle police station. According to Swaminathan, a residential property was unlawfully transformed into a church, complete with loudspeakers that have caused significant disturbance to the local community. Despite clear court directives prohibiting such establishments in residential areas, the complaint alleges that the authorities have failed to take any meaningful action.
The letter submitted to the collector states that the unauthorized occupation of the Vannan Thital drainage canal in Villiyanallur village, Kuttalam taluk, Mayiladuthurai district was carried out without government permission and contravened the National Green Tribunal guidelines.
In response to the initial complaint, the Kuttalam police Circle inspector assured Swaminathan that a peace meeting would be arranged to resolve the matter though this does not come under his jurisdiction. This meeting was scheduled for August 22 at 3 PM, but just ten minutes before the appointed time, Swaminathan received a call received a phone call from the police station informing him that the talks were postponed and a new date would be informed later. This abrupt change has raised concerns about the impartiality of the Police Circle Inspector.
Swaminathan told Organiser that the police earlier cited they have no jurisdiction over this matter, and promised that efforts would be made to mediate through peace talks led by the Kuttalam taehsildar.
Instructions were given to both parties to refrain from using loudspeakers for religious activities until the peace talks were concluded.
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Swaminathan said when sought reasons for the postponement in person, the tahsildar evaded then queries by giving inconsistent and unsatisfactory responses. It appears that the Kuttalam tehsildar is abusing his power by supporting the opposition party and postponing the matter. I request departmental action against both the Kuttalam Tehsildar and the Kuttalam police inspector.
It is to be noted that courts have given directions that no prayer hall should be allowed in residential areas or homes by converting them into an illegal prayer halls causing nuisance to the residents of the locality.
However, Hindu Munnani accuses that with blessings of the ruling DMK government, religious conversion activities, running illegal places of worship, distributing handbills and Bibles to residents, school and colleges are going on unabated, despite several appeals by various Hindu organisations.
In Tamilnadu, the Christian lobby has been employing a troubling strategy to expand its influence and operations. Their modus operandi involves targeting unused, contentious plots of land or residential houses, which are then covertly converted into prayer halls or churches. These structures are often erected under the guise of religious freedom, but the reality is far more insidious.
Once a site is secured, the lobby mobilizes local supporters to manage the church’s affairs and initiate aggressive evangelistic campaigns in the surrounding areas. When confronted with accusations of illegality, the lobby employs a dual strategy: they either portray themselves as victims of persecution or leverage their political connections to intimidate and silence critics. This approach not only circumvents legal norms but also fosters a climate of fear and suppression among the residents.
