Caste Hindus raze temple in Vellore village after Dalits celebrate festival

The Dalits of the village, who roughly make up 50% of the population, stated the deity of the temple in question had primarily been worshipped by their community for many years.

Rajalakshmi Sampath Updated on: 18 Aug 2024, 3:26 pm

VELLORE: A section of caste Hindus demolished a Kaliamman temple near Gemmankuppam village in KV Kuppam taluk last week, after Dalits of the village defied their decision to disallow people from Scheduled Caste (SC) communities from participating in the temple’s Aadi month festivities. After a delay of more than a week, based on the Dalits’ complaint, KV Kuppam police have registered a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against one person from a caste Hindu community.

According to official sources, the FIR was filed on August 14 after the matter was discussed in detail during a recent law and order meeting chaired by the district collector.

The Dalits of the village, who roughly make up 50% of the population, said the deity of the temple in question had primarily been worshipped by their community for many years. One member, S Naveen Kumar, who filed the police complaint, told TNIE that over time members of other castes began worshipping at the temple, but in recent years the Dalits have started facing discrimination.

According to sources, the deity had initially been enshrined in the open, on a piece of poramboke land located three kilometres away from the village. A few years ago, a small temple was built around the deity. The Dalits told TNIE that they had contributed in cash and kind for the construction of the temple, a claim the caste Hindus contested. “We were not even invited for the consecration of the new structure,” Naveen Kumar alleged.

The caste Hindus of the village comprise a mix of communities including Vanniyars, Yadavs, Chettiars and Naidus, sources said.

Naveen Kumar said the Dalits were explicitly told to stay away from the Aadi month festivities which were scheduled for August 2, the third Friday of the Tamil month of Aadi. D Loganathan, a caste Hindu named in the FIR, who claims to be a medium and soothsayer, told the villagers that Goddess Kaliamman had appeared in his dreams and instructed the Dalits be kept away. “The caste Hindus backed his claim,” Naveen added.

Another Dalit, 37-year-old Bharath Tamil, said, “We usually begin celebrations at the Mariamman temple in our locality first, then cook pongal at the Kaliamman temple outside the village. Recently, we have been facing discrimination. Last year, caste Hindus even refused to allow the temple procession on our streets.”

After the caste Hindus made the decision to exclude Dalits, the community members filed a police complaint. KV Kuppam police then initiated an inquiry, during which the caste Hindus allegedly made discriminatory statements. Subsequently, on August 2, the Dalits defied the caste Hindus and proceeded to cook pongal and celebrate at the Kaliamman temple. The event was boycotted by the caste Hindus, sources said.

On August 6, despite the temple being under police protection, a section of caste Hindus demolished the temple using earthmovers and took away the idol. In their complaint, the Dalits alleged that the demolition was done with the support of the then jurisdictional DSP Ravichandran. However, when TNIE contacted the official, he denied the allegations, stating the case is now being handled by the revenue department. He had no comment on how the temple’s demolition took place despite police personnel being present.

Speaking to TNIE, the caste Hindus of the village claimed the temple was solely built by Loganathan. They added they have no qualm about Dalits entering and worshipping at the temple, however, they expressed unwillingness to celebrate the temple festival together. Loganathan refused to comment.

The village panchayat president M Krishnamoorthy said, “If both parties are willing, I am ready to organise the temple festival; otherwise, it is up to the villagers.”

Gudiyatham revenue officials have scheduled peace committee meetings with both the communities in a bid to resolve the issue. A senior revenue official acknowledged that the temple structure should not have been demolished even though it stood on poramboke land, since it is the case with many other temples in the state.

Notably, DSP Ravichandran was among those who were transferred as part of the recent district-wide shuffling of police officials.