Before incidents such as Muslim youth offering namaz inside a Hindu temple and two Muslim youths breaching the security of the Vice-President by driving away on a motorbike in the presence of police personnel on bandobust duty in Coimbatore fade away from the minds of Hindus in Tamil Nadu, a fresh controversy has erupted.
According to Hindu Munnani functionary Guna, tension prevailed in Venkangudi village near Samayapuram, Trichy district, after Hindus alleged attempts are being made to convert an ancient 1,000-year-old stone mandapam belonging to the Nangamangalam Choultry into a mosque and dargah. The mandapam was reportedly pulled down, and idols that people had been worshipping for generations were allegedly thrown out. A board was installed claiming the property belongs to the Waqf Board.
In Tamil Nadu, DMK, Congress, Left, VCK and NTK have strongly opposed the Waqf Amendment Act, arguing that it is detrimental to the interests of the Muslim community. However, in practice, the Waqf Board continues to claim ownership of several properties. The Nangamangalam Choultry is one among them.
இந்து கோவில் சத்திரத்தை
மசூதியாக மாற்ற முயற்சி…திருச்சி மாவட்டம், சமயபுரம் அருகிலுள்ள வெங்கங்குடி கிராமத்தில் அமைந்துள்ள நங்கமங்கல சத்திரம் பழமையான கல் மண்டபத்தை முஸ்லீம்கள் அபகரித்து மசூதியாக மற்றும் தர்காவாக மாற்ற மாபெரும் முயற்சி நடந்துவருகிறது..
அங்குள்ள… pic.twitter.com/t0nBa9pGoJ
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) October 29, 2025
Guna said, “This is a blatant attempt to destroy Hindu identities and convert them into Islamic structures like mosques. We have met the Collector and submitted a representation urging him to act immediately to prevent the property becoming Waqf property. We also requested the district administration to retrieve the same from Muslims and hand it over to the lawful Hindu owners.”
According to a statement released by the Hindu Munnani, local residents claim that the stone structure, which they say historically featured carvings of Hindu deities on its pillars, has recently been marked as Waqf property. The organisation alleged that efforts are underway to erase traces of Hindu symbols and convert the mandapam into an Islamic place of worship.
M Pandian, District Executive Council Member, Hindu Munnani, in a petition dated 29 October to the Trichy District Collector, stated: “Muslims have illegally and forcefully encroached an ancient 1,000-year-old kal (stone) mandapam in Vengankudi village in Mannachallur taluk and put up a board claiming it as Waqf property. With ulterior motive, they have wantonly and with premeditated intent pulled down the mandapam near the mosque. Villagers say there were figurines of Hindu gods in the mandapam which they have been praying to. The figurines were on the pillars as well. They were designed in traditional Hindu temple architecture.”
The petition further claimed that a mosque already exists adjacent to the mandapam and that the new board asserting ownership has triggered objections from villagers and Hindu groups.
Hindu Munnani and locals described the move as an “attempt to seize temple property”. Hindu Munnani has urged the Trichy district administration to conduct an immediate inspection of the site and take steps to prevent any alteration or encroachment on the heritage structure. The district administration has not yet issued a formal response to the allegations, with observers suggesting they are awaiting directions from political leadership.
Hindu Munnani and locals have requested the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to visit and take over the property to protect its heritage status. They argue that this would put an end to Muslims claiming ownership of such ancient properties and prevent attempts to erase Hindu cultural identity. Though Bharat attained independence from colonial rulers and invaders, they say the mindset backed by political patronage continues across the country. Unless Hindus become a strong vote bank, minority appeasement will continue unchecked.
In another incident, following Hindu Munnani’s objections, a banner shaped like a temple tower at the main entrance, featuring a picture of Chief Minister Stalin, was removed. Hindu Munnani said the Dravidian Model government shows no concern for desecrating Hindu temples by placing pictures of a living person in temple-style premises.
