Tamil Nadu - Udhagamandalam   

Temple problem takes a new turn

— Photo: D. Radhakrishnan

Heated discussions: Kuruthukuli villagers participating in a meeting opposite the Collectorate in Udhagamandalam on Tuesday.

Udhagamandalam: The dispute between two groups at Kuruthukuli village near here took a new turn on Tuesday when members of one group assembled near the Collectorate seeking the intervention of the district administration.

It has been a long standing dispute as to who has the right to perform pujas at the local Mariamman temple. With both the groups claiming that only they had the right to perform the pujas, the matter had gone to the court and the temple has been sealed by the revenue authorities.

Meanwhile the majority group had constructed another Mariamman temple nearby. Stating that they had been prevented by revenue officials from performing pujas in the new temple on Monday and Tuesday, the leader of the majority group N.Bheeman said in a memorandum submitted to the district administration that they should be permitted to perform pujas.

They threatened to observe a fast if the permission was not accorded, he said.

He added that they have resolved to surrender their family cards, identity cards etc if they were denied the right to perform pujas in their temple.

The Revenue Divisional Officer, K.Tharpagaraj when contacted by The Hindu said that both the groups were disputing each others claims. Hence permission to perform pujas has been denied to both. Law and Order cannot be maintained in Kuruthukuli otherwise.

He added that a lasting solution can be provided only by the court.

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