Officials locked inside shop to foil eviction

A person called Ramayyar had encroached upon a portion of the Kalachandi Kattalai Mandapam owned by Kumbeswaran temple, on the northern bank of the Mahamaham tank, 25 years ago. The HR and CE Department fixed a rent for the place and was collecting it from Ramayyar who was running a shop. 

Later, Ramayyar sublet a part of the shop to one Murugesan who has been running a rice shop there. During the 2016 Mahamaham festival, the officials had sealed the shop. 

However, after the festival, Murugesan allegedly broke open the seal and continued to operate the shop.

When the HR and CE officials tried to seal the shop, Chellathambi and Venkatesan, brothers of Murugesan, claimed they have a court order, but failed to produce it. They also downed the shutters with the officials inside. Later, the police released the officials and sealed the shop.