COIMBATORE: Tension prevailed in Tirupur on Wednesday after a temple was demolished following a court order, leading to a scuffle between police and members of the public, in which Hindu Munnani’s state president Kadeswara Subramaniam was injured.
Officials of the revenue department, led by Avinashi Tahsildar M Chandrasekar, carried out the demolition of a Murugan temple built on poramboke land at Arivoli Nagar near Perumanallur by deploying three earth movers.
To prevent any untoward incident, over 100 police personnel were deployed at the spot.
As the news of demolition spread out, the residents and Hindu Munnani cadres led by its president Kadeswara Subramaniam arrived and raised slogans in protest.
When they attempted to march towards the temple, the police attempted to detain the protesters, resulting in a scuffle. During the commotion, Kadeswara Subramaniam reportedly fell, sustaining injury to his leg.
Subsequently, police detained around 38 protesters at a marriage hall and carried out the demolition activity, while the idols were safely removed and shifted to a temple under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department.
The police said Subramaniam was later admitted to Tirupur Government Hospital, where a large number of Hindu Munnani cadres gathered, leading to heightened tension.
Meanwhile, in opposition to his arrest, the members of Hindu outfits staged protests in different parts of Tirupur, as well as in Coimbatore.