Vinayaka murti procession (Representative Image)
The inaction of the police on Muslims in Srivilliputhur, who allegedly threatened Hindus with bomb blasts for chanting Bharat Mata ki Jai during a procession on September 16, has raised serious concerns. Two youths who objected to the drumming and chanting Bharat Mata ki Jai while the Hindu Munnani procession was passing through a mosque allegedly threatened the participants, saying, “If you chant like this, we will throw bombs and kill you all.”
The police who were giving protection to the procession waited for some time and arrested the two youths, only to release them later to calm down the Hindus. A video in this regard has gone viral on social media. The police, without filing any case, released them. It was like a detention for a few hours. This angered Hindus.
Hindu Munnani functionary Brahmanayagam said, “Last year also there was a stampede-like situation while passing through this mosque. In that, Yuvaraj collapsed and was hospitalised for three days. Again, this year, the same thing happened. We were expecting this. We did not chant except Bharat Mata ki Jai. No drum beats. The charged youths came out from inside a mosque and threatened to stop chanting or we will kill you all by bomb blasts. Police merely detained [them] to pacify the Hindus and to calm down tense moments. Without registering any case, the duo was released.”
The September 16 incident came a day after Bhagwan Ganesh murti visarjan was held in Aruppukkottai on September 15. Police permitted the procession after imposing conditions like no drum beating while passing the mosque and church areas en route.
The devotees gave slogans like Om Ganesha, Jai Ganesha, Bharat Mata ki Jai, Jai Kali, Om Kali, etc., when the procession was moving, as a traditional practice. However, a group of Muslims trespassed into the same and objected to such slogans.
They started assaulting Hindu Munnani functionaries besides creating a ruckus. But the police who were present suddenly became mute, the same police deployed to provide protection to the procession and the people participating.
Local argue that such inaction or fear of taking action against them has emboldened them to continue this on a broader scale. The inaction of the police in Aruppukkottai has now raised questions over the police response to the September 16 incident in Srivilliputhur.
Indu Makkal Katchi founder Arjun Sampath, in a post on X, said, “This is a very serious and shocking one. Police should find out the veracity of the youths’ threats by analysing the audio and video clips and take appropriate action against the youth. Police should take steps to enhance the security measures in and around Srivilliputhur Andal Temple, which is a world-famous one. All who come to the temple should be subjected to frisking and installation of metal detectors. Even temple staff, devotees, bhattars, contract workers and others should pass through the security measures. CCTV cameras should be installed at all vantage points and bomb detection and safety measures should also be in place to avoid untoward incidents. Police should inquire into all the incidents related to the Vinayaka Chaturthi festival and threats, clashes and other charges without any bias and initiate legal action against them if found true.
“On issuing bomb threats, the duo should be thoroughly interrogated and their background or part of any group. How could they issue bomb threats in the presence of police? It is a question that needs to be probed. We urge the state police and NIA jointly to take action.”
TVK MLA Mustafa, who wanted to eradicate Sana tana, attended the Kumbabhishekam of Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple today wearing a skull cap. There were objections earlier when he visited the temple along with ministers to review the consecration works.
In Ariyalur, district SC/ST wing president and advocate Jayaraj was attacked by a ganja-addicted group. He is now being treated at Raymonda Government Hospital. According to Ma Venkatesan, a BJP functionary, in a post on X, police so far have not taken action against the attackers.
Venkatesan warned that failure of the police to take action will force them to launch protests demanding the arrest of the attackers.
