Tamil Nadu - Salem   

400-year-old temple closed

SALEM: The district administration on Saturday closed the 400-year-old Sri Draupathi Amman Temple, maintained by the HR and CE, at Kandampatti here, following failure of talks between caste Hindus and Dalits on the latter’s entry into the temple.

Amid protests from caste Hindus, Salem RDO and Sub Divisional Magistrate S. Kaja Mohideen put the lock on the main doors of the temple to “maintain law and order and public tranquillity till the issue is solved.”

Dalits and Viduthalai Siruthaigal activists had announced they would enter the temple under the leadership of Thol. Tirumavalavan on August 6. The caste Hindus strongly objected. Collector N. Mathivanan held discussions with disputed parties on Friday. But the meeting remained inconclusive.

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