TIRUCHY: Residents from Malvai village in Lalgudi staged a protest in front of the Tiruchy District Collectorate on Monday, condemning the alleged irregularities by the temple administration and the priests on hundi collection and temple jewels.

According to the protesters, the Ayyanar Pidariyar Karuppanna Samy Thava temple located in the village has been collecting funds from the public for the renovation of the temple, and the temple administration and the priests have been misusing the funds collected for the renovation works.

They said that they had taken up the issue with the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE) officials, but they failed to act on the complaint.

The residents claimed that several hundred sovereigns of jewels are owned by the temple, but the administration and the priests are misusing them for their personal interests.

Since their repeated complaints had not yielded any solution, the residents came to the Collectorate on Monday and staged a protest. They also blocked traffic in front of the Collectorate. Soon, the police who were on duty held talks with the protesting residents.

Upon assurance by the police, they dispersed from the spot. Subsequently, they submitted a petition to the District Collector, who assured them of immediate action.