Latest news with #Muthukrishnan
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- The Hindu
SC homes attacked as caste clashes erupt during temple festival at village in Pudukkottai
The police booked 15 individuals from the caste Hindu community — 13 of whom have been arrested. Clashes erupted between villagers belonging to the Most Backward Community (MBC) and the Scheduled Caste (SC) at Vadakadu in Pudukkottai district on Monday night, resulting in arson. The hut of a 58-year-old woman, S. Mallika, and three two-wheelers were allegedly set ablaze by some MBC members in Thiruvalluvar Nagar, an SC hamlet. Seven houses were vandalised; two cars were damaged; and the window pane of a government bus was shattered during the violence, which broke out during the annual Muthumariamman temple festival in the village. A police constable, Muthukrishnan, from the Vadakadu police station, also sustained injuries. The police booked 15 individuals from the caste Hindu community — 13 of whom have been arrested. Five SC villagers have also been booked, one of whom has been arrested. The charges include rioting, unlawful assembly, and provisions under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The SC villagers have additionally been charged with carrying weapons and indulging in violence. Twelve SC members and eight MBC members are being treated at the Alangudi Government Hospital and Pudukkottai Government Medical College and Hospital. The villagers said that an altercation between teenagers and youth from the two communities escalated into the violence. The two sides gave conflicting versions of how the incident was triggered. Between 9. 30 p.m. and 11. 30 p.m., over 400 caste Hindu men reportedly entered the SC hamlet and began vandalising property. The situation was brought under control after Pudukkottai Superintendent of Police Abhishek Gupta and Law Minister S. Regupathy visited the village late in the night. Thiruvalluvar Nagar, home to about 150 families, is the only SC hamlet in a panchayat comprising 17 smaller settlements – 15 of which belong to a dominant MBC community. At the centre of the conflict is access to and participation in religious rituals at the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments-administered Muthumariamman temple. SC residents said there had been a long-standing caste-based discrimination, and that the recent violence was rooted in a deeper social exclusion. They flagged their exclusion from participating in rituals at the Muthumariamman temple, including mandakapadi — a symbolic ritual involving the hoisting of a white umbrella (venkudai attam) and display of sacred weapons such as aruvas. They contend that they have been repeatedly sidelined in temple affairs by dominant caste groups despite holding multiple protests and participating in peace talks, the latest of which was held in April. 'Not allowed to host events' 'We are not even allowed to host our events in the temple hall, despite contributing money,' R. Porselvam said. 'Others pay a fixed temple tax for infrastructure, but we are told to make donations. Even then, we are excluded. Besides, a legal dispute over the ownership of the Adaikkalam Katha Ayyanar temple located on a poramboke land is pending before the Alangudi court since 2015. We have been sidelined in both temples,' Sethupathy M., another resident, said. The violence reportedly flared up after SC teenagers tried to touch a chariot rope during the procession. 'They were subjected to caste halting of the chariot, which usually happens at 7 p.m., was delayed to 10 p.m. That was when the attack happened,' Mr. Sethupathy alleged. SC residents further said that police presence was minimal during the early stages of the clash. 'When we called for an ambulance, we were told that it could not arrive due to the ongoing violence. One of our people who tried to take an injured person to a nearby primary health centre was followed, and his motorbike was torched in front of the hospital...,' a villager said. Several SC residents who spoke to The Hindu were concerned over their safety as they are in minority in the region. However, members of the MBC, including Muthumariamman temple trustees Senguttuvan R. and Devaraj K., said the incident stemmed from tensions around temple traditions. 'They never had mandakapadi rights in our temple before. Only recently have they started to make such the Ayyanar temple they refer to stands on the land that belonged to our forefathers...,' Mr. Senguttuvan said. They alleged that some SC youths, influenced by political groups, triggered the unrest. 'We have always been inclusive. There has never been any discrimination in Vadakadu,' Mr. Devaraj added. In a release, the Pudukkottai police said the clashes began as a verbal dispute involving intoxicated youth from both communities. However, members from both communities dismissed this version. A police officer told The Hindu that all possible angles were being examined in the probe.
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Residents of Suriyampalayam in Erode stage protest over delay in providing basic amenities
Condemning the prolonged delay in provision of basic amenities in their area, the residents of Annai Theresa Nagar at Suriyampalayam in Erode Corporation limits staged a sit-in protest on the Collectorate premises during the weekly grievances redress meeting on Monday. They placed their petitions, ration cards, and Aadhaar cards on the ground in a symbolic protest. The residents, mostly daily wage workers, said that over 60 families have been living in the area for more than 18 years without access to essential services such as toilets, drainage systems, drinking water connections, or electricity. Despite repeated appeals to elected representatives and officials, their demands remain unfulfilled. They added that while they possess ration and Aadhaar cards, they do not own land or houses and continue to live in dire conditions. They alleged that police did not allow them to enter the meeting hall to submit their petitions. Only a few individuals were permitted entry, prompting others to place their documents on the ground and stage protest. Erode Tahsildar Muthukrishnan and police officials held discussions with the protesters and later took a few representatives inside to submit the petitions. However, as the residents refused to take back the documents they had laid on the ground, a government staff member collected all the cards.
New Indian Express
30-04-2025
- New Indian Express
Three, including two minors, from TN's Karur killed in Kolkata hotel fire
KARUR: 14 people, including an elderly man and two minors from Karur district in Tamil Nadu, were killed in a fire accident at a hotel in Kolkata on Tuesday night. According to police, the deceased from Karur were identified as Muthukrishnan (61), P Diya (10), and P Rithan (3), all from Uppidamangalam in Karur district. Police said that Prabhu (40), an entrepreneur dealing in Aloe Vera by-products across the country, had been on a tour in Kolkata since April 17, along with his father-in-law Muthukrishnan, daughter Diya, son Rithan, and wife P Mathumitha. The family had been staying at the Rituraj Hotel on Madanmohan Street in the city's Burrabazar area. At the time of the incident, Prabhu and his wife had stepped out of the hotel to buy dinner, while the others remained in their room. All 14 victims, including the three from Karur, were unable to escape and died in the blaze, police sources said. When contacted, Prabhu told TNIE that they had planned to check out of the hotel after dinner on April 29, Tuesday. 'We left Tiruchy on April 17, 2025, and toured various places across the state. We had been staying at the hotel for the past two days. We had already packed our luggage and were about to check out after dinner. My wife and I went downstairs to get food. Within a few minutes, everything was over. As there was no proper emergency exit, nobody could escape from the hotel,' he said. District Collector M Thangavel spoke to Prabhu and assured him of assistance bringing the bodies back to Karur, Prabhu added
Gulf Insider
18-02-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Financial Planner-Why Dollar Millionaires Are Rarer in India
'In that case, India might top the charts soon — real estate prices are skyrocketing, and in rural areas, large land holdings are passed down generations without ever being sold. Wealth here isn't always liquid, but it's definitely substantial!' one user commented. Becoming a dollar millionaire in India is an extraordinary achievement, says financial planner D Muthukrishnan. He argues that reaching a net worth of $1 million (around ₹8.7 crore, excluding primary residence) places individuals in an elite financial bracket. Sharing his perspective on X (formerly Twitter), Muthukrishnan compared India's wealth landscape with two of the richest nations in the world — Singapore and Switzerland. 'I've been to Singapore many times. They have a population of 6 million people, out of which 0.3 million are dollar millionaires. This is 5% of the population. Becoming a dollar millionaire is an aspirational goal for many Singaporeans. It is a sign of achievement,' he wrote. If you're a dollar millionaires (Rs.8.7 crores networth not including primary residence), it is really an achievement.I've been to Singapore many times. They have a population of 6 million people. Out of which, 0.3 million are dollar millionaires. This is 5% of the population.… — (@dmuthuk) February 17, 2025 He then drew parallels with Switzerland. 'Population of Switzerland is 9 million. 0.5 million people are millionaires. This is again 5% of the population. Even for Swiss, becoming a millionaire is an aspirational goal.' According to Muthukrishnan, achieving this milestone in India is even more remarkable. 'So, if you are a dollar millionaire in India, your wealth achievement is phenomenal,' he stated. His remarks ignited a discussion on wealth creation, real estate, and financial mobility in India. Some users pointed out that property prices have skyrocketed, making many landowners significantly wealthy on paper. 'In that case, India might top the charts soon — real estate prices are skyrocketing, and in rural areas, large land holdings are passed down generations without ever being sold. Wealth here isn't always liquid, but it's definitely substantial!' one user commented. Another compared the status of millionaires in India versus Singapore. 'Being a dollar millionaire in India is like being a billionaire in Singapore — except with more traffic and spicier food. Switzerland and Singapore may have 5% millionaires, but in India, you're in the elite of the elite. Enjoy it… and maybe don't check property prices in Mumbai,' the person wrote. However, not everyone agreed. One user argued that amassing such wealth without inherited assets is nearly impossible in India. 'Excluding generational wealth; I don't think it's possible for anyone to achieve Dollar Millionaire Badge during working age in India,' they wrote. Click here to read more Also read: Dubai 9-Month GDP Climbs To $92.4bn As Transport, Finance, IT And Real Estate Sectors Lead Growth
