Villagers prevented from using hand pump, block road

According to police, the villagers were dependent on the hand pump inside the Ponni Amman Temple due to the prevailing water crisis. “A few days ago, a local woman, who went into a trance, claimed that there was no rain due to people from a particular community drawing water from the hand pump. She said they should be stopped from doing so,” police said.

Paying heed to her claims, temple priest Karuna reportedly told members of that community that they could draw water only after special poojas were conducted. Agitated over this, they staged a road blockade on Tuesday. On receiving information about the same, police and revenue officials rushed to the spot. They assured that there was no bar on any community taking water from the hand pump, adding that severe action would be taken against those responsible if such a restriction was imposed.