Latest news with #Munnani
New Indian Express
25-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Agama violation: Two Perur temple staff suspended
COIMBATORE: Two employees of the Arulmigu Patteeswarar Swamy Temple in Perur have been suspended for allowing a superintendent of police (SP) to worship inside the sanctum sanctorum after temple hours on Sunday. The HR&CE department suspended Velmurugan, a staff member, and Saminathan, a priest, on Wednesday after a video purportedly showing the SP's late-night visit went viral on social media. Following the incident, a devotee had staged a sit-in protest in front of the temple along with members of the Hindu Munnani, demanding action against those who permitted the entry. Sources said the temple staff allowed the officer inside based on instructions from a senior HR&CE official. However, access to the inner precincts of temples after 9 pm is considered a violation of the Agama Vidhi (the temple's rituals and practices prescribed in the Agama scriptures). Meanwhile, the HR&CE department has also banned devotees from carrying cellphones inside the temple. The restriction came into effect on Thursday, coinciding with the Adi Amavasai, when thousands of devotees flock to the shrine. A dedicated counter has been set up to collect mobile phones, and tokens are being issued in exchange. However, officials denied that the ban was linked to the SP incident, stating that the move was already under consideration to prevent devotees from photographing the deities.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Online booking in 5 major temples soon: Sekar Babu
Tuticorin: Hindu religious and charitable endowments minister P K Sekar Babu on Monday announced that online booking and break darshan facilities will be introduced in at least five major temples across Tamil Nadu by the end of this year. The temples identified for the rollout include Tiruchendur, Palani, and Tiruvannamalai, he said after attending the consecration ceremony in Tiruchendur. Addressing reporters, the minister said more than five lakh devotees took part and that all hymns were recited exclusively in Tamil. "Only Tamil hymns were used throughout the rituals," he said, denying claims that Sanskrit hymns were also chanted. As part of the temple's ongoing Rs300 crore development project, a 52-bed dormitory was opened for pilgrims. The facility, with a Rs500 tariff per bed, aims to provide affordable accommodation, the minister said. He added that renovation work will continue at other temple sites, including Saravana Poigai and Aali Kenaru. Responding to questions about the Hindu Munnani's recent Murugan conference in Madurai, Sekar Babu drew a contrast, saying, "The difference is simple—our conference was about Lord Murugan, theirs was political and they even spoke against our leaders like Annadurai and Periyar. In our event, did we speak anything political or did we speak against any other leaders? We didn't."
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Objection raised to STP construction at Chokkampudur cremation ground by Coimbatore Corporation
The Hindu Munnani petitioned the Collector on Monday opposing the construction of a sewage treatment plant (STP) at the cremation ground in Chokkampudur. In the petition, district secretary K. Maheswaran said the land has been used by Hindus for burial and cremation for several decades. The petition noted that the site is surrounded by densely populated neighbourhoods, and a private school with over 1,000 students is located near by the plant. If the STP becomes operational, it may pose a health risk to those living and studying in the vicinity, the petitioner said. Citing cases from Pullukadu and Vellalore, the petitioner added that similar facilities have caused discomfort and health issues for local communities. The Hindu Munnani stated that a cremation ground should be used only for religious rites, not for treating waste, and urged that the STP be relocated. They said the residents of the area have also raised objections to the project. The Corporation is constructing the 15.43 MLD STP at Chokkampudur as part of the underground drainage project for Vadavalli–Veerakeralam areas. Officials said over 30% of the work is complete and the plant is designed to function without odour or effluent issues.
India Today
02-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Case against Annamalai, 2 Hindu group leaders over speeches during Madurai meet
A criminal case was registered against former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai and two members of the Hindu Munnani group over their speeches at a recent Murugan devotees' conference.A lawyer, named Vanjinathan, claimed that several leaders made incendiary speeches during the Lord Murugan Devotees Conference, held on June 22. Based on this, a case against Annamalai, Hindu Munnani's state leader Kadeswara Subramaniam and Munnani functionary Selvakumar was registered for promoting enmity between groups and outraging religious complaint reportedly stated that speeches and resolutions at the event, attended by Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran and Andhra Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, incited communal hostility. The case was registered by Anna Nagar Police under sections 196 (1) (a), 299, 302 and 353 (1) (2) (B) of BNSS for speaking in manner hurting religious sentiments, causing enmity and causing distress to public to the complaint, the participants allegedly violated Madras High Court conditions at the is not the first time a case has been registered against Annamalai. In December 2024, a case was registered against Annamalai and over 900 BJP workers under charges of unlawful assembly for holding a 'Black Day' procession in Chennai without prior permission. Annamalai and other BJP workers were protesting the funeral procession of a Coimbatore blast April 2024, during the Lok Sabha elections, two cases were registered against Annamalai for violating the model code of conduct, because he allegedly campaigned beyond the permitted time.- Ends
Hans India
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Hindu Activist Brutally Killed In Tamil Nadu Attack
A prominent Hindu organization leader was brutally murdered in a pre-dawn attack near his residence in Tamil Nadu's Tiruppur district, marking another violent incident targeting political activists in the state. Balamurugan, who served as the Tiruppur North town president of Hindu Munnani, was killed by three unidentified assailants who surrounded and attacked him with sharp weapons around 4 AM on Tuesday. The 30-year-old victim had been associated with the legal wing of the Hindu organization and was reportedly targeted while he was near his home in the Kumaranandhapuram area. According to police reports, Balamurugan had stepped out of his residence around midnight on Monday. The attackers allegedly waited for several hours before launching their assault, suggesting the murder may have been premeditated rather than a random act of violence. Local law enforcement agencies immediately responded to the crime scene following reports of the attack. District police officials have initiated a comprehensive investigation, collecting closed-circuit television footage from the surrounding area to identify the perpetrators and establish their escape route. The brutal nature of the attack, involving multiple assailants using sharp weapons, has raised concerns about the safety of political and religious organization leaders in Tamil Nadu. The incident adds to a troubling pattern of violence targeting activists and political figures across different communities in the state. This murder follows a series of similar attacks on political activists in Tamil Nadu over recent years. In July 2023, Bahujan Samaj Party Tamil Nadu president K Armstrong was hacked to death by six unidentified individuals near his Chennai residence in Perambur. The Armstrong case led to multiple arrests and subsequent police encounters that resulted in the killing of several suspects, including history-sheeter Thiruvengadam and gangster Seizing Raja. Shortly after Armstrong's murder, another political figure, Pattali Makkal Katchi functionary Sivasankar, was stabbed by motorcycle-borne attackers in front of his home in Cuddalore district. The attack was captured on nearby surveillance cameras, showing the assailants fleeing with daggers after the assault. The pattern of violence extends back further, with a 2016 incident involving another Hindu Munnani functionary who was killed by a four-member gang in Coimbatore. The National Investigation Agency's subsequent investigation revealed that case to be a case of mistaken identity, where the actual target was a different organization member with the same name who had made controversial social media posts. Hindu Munnani, established in 1980, is a Hindu nationalist organization that operates primarily in Tamil Nadu. The group has been involved in various religious and political activities, often positioning itself as a defender of Hindu interests in the state. The organization has previously raised concerns about various issues including religious conversions and what it describes as threats to Hindu traditions. The murder of Balamurugan has prompted calls for enhanced security measures for political and religious organization leaders, particularly those involved in sensitive community issues. The incident highlights the volatile nature of Tamil Nadu's political landscape, where ideological differences sometimes escalate into violent confrontations. Police investigations are focusing on determining whether the attack was motivated by personal enmity, political rivalry, or ideological differences. Authorities are examining Balamurugan's recent activities and any potential threats he may have received prior to the murder. The case underscores broader concerns about political violence in Tamil Nadu, where activists from various organizations have faced targeted attacks. The state's complex social and political dynamics, involving multiple communities and ideological groups, have occasionally resulted in violent incidents that challenge law and order. As the investigation continues, local communities and political organizations are calling for swift justice and measures to prevent similar attacks in the future. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks faced by individuals involved in political and social activism in India's diverse and sometimes polarized political environment.
