Tamil Nadu CPI(M) leaders broke open the temple gates of the more than 100-year-old Kumaran Kundru Murugan Temple in Tiruppur and allegedly tried to take possession of the land. Police personnel present at the spot did not prevent them from carrying out the alleged illegal act.
Condemning the incident, Hindu Munnani State President Kadeswara C. Subramaniam, in a statement issued on July 28, criticised the Communist leaders for breaking the lock of the temple gate and allegedly attempting to encroach upon the temple while the matter is pending before a court.
Following the demolition by government in January 2026, devotees moved the court seeking justice. Despite the matter being sub judice, State CPI(M) secretary P. Shanmugam and Left cadres allegedly removed the lock from the gate and entered the temple to encroach upon the land. “The police personnel present there did not prevent them from doing so,” he said.
குமரன் குன்று கோயிலில் நிலத்தில்
அத்துமீறி நுழைந்து பூட்டை உடைத்து
ஆக்கிரமிக்க கம்யூனிஸ்டு கட்சியினர் முயற்சி..இந்து முன்னணி கடும் கண்டனம்..
வழக்கு நிலுவையில் உள்ள போது கோவில் நிலத்தை ஆக்கிரமிக்க முயற்சி செய்த மார்ச்சிஸ்ட் கம்யூனிஸ்ட் கட்சியின் மாநில செயலாளர் சண்முகம் உட்பட… pic.twitter.com/dMxnY8o4DF
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) July 28, 2026
The Hindu Munnani leader said, ” How could CPI(M) leaders act in such a manner when the issue is sub judice? Is it because they are part of the ruling dispensation that they have been emboldened to encroach upon temple land? Such acts would bring a bad name to the Joseph Vijay-led TVK government.”
Subramaniam urged the TVK government to take legal action against the CPI(M) leaders who allegedly attempted to illegally encroach upon the Kumaran Kundru temple land.
In January 2026, authorities demolished the Kumaran Kundru Murugan Temple in Rakkiyapatti village under Ettiveerampalayam Panchayat in Avinashi taluk of Tiruppur district after alleging that it had been built on encroached government land. The demolition turned violent, leaving a Hindu Munnani functionary injured.
According to Hindu Munnani leaders in Tiruppur, “The temple, locally known as Kumaran Kundru or Selvamuthu Kumarasamy Temple, had been constructed on about 2.8 acres of government poramboke land. The complex included shrines dedicated to Murugan, Vinayagar, a Sivalingam and Nandi.”
Hindu Munnani State President Kadeswara C. Subramaniam said that the Bhagwan Murugan murti was more than a century old and that its removal was carried out under political pressure.
He said, “In the Ettiveerampalayam Panchayat near Perumanallur in Tiruppur district, there was a 100-year-old idol of Bhagwan Murugan. That murti was located on a small hill known as Kumaran Kundru. Some people from the Communist Party, specifically the local MP, put pressure on the authorities, and on the orders of the Collector, the idol was removed overnight. This happened even though the local public tried to stop it.”
Subramaniam further said, “The Archaeological Research Department has stated in court that the murti is over 100 years old. There were directions from the authorities that a decision should be taken only after the court inquiry, yet they went ahead and removed it.”
In another development, HR&CE Minister S. Ramesh ordered the suspension of four temple employees and four officials in connection with the alleged theft of ₹35,000 from the hundi at the famous Sri Koniamman Temple on Big Bazaar Street in Coimbatore. The alleged theft occurred on July 15 during the counting of temple offerings. Following a complaint, Ukkadam police identified ticket collector A. Balasubramaniyan (32), office assistant V. Saravanan (34), cleaning staff member P. Pradeep Kumar (31), and temple priest S. Krishnaraj (56). The suspended officials include Range Inspectors Ram Kumar and Udhayakumar, Executive Officer Kumar, and Assistant Commissioner Usha Nandhini for alleged negligence in acting against those involved in the theft.
