Madurai, December 25
After a decade-long struggle, Dalits at Panthapuli village in Tirunelveli district entered the Kannanallur Mariamman temple with the help of district officials defying a ban imposed allegedly by upper castes. Dalits, led by district collector G Prakash and Superintendent of Police Asra Garg, entered the temple at Panthapuli near Sankarankovil yesterday.
Though the upper Hindu class resented the entry, they did not, however, make any effort to resist the move, apparently due to stern warning issued by the district administration.
The collector had initiated steps to take over the temple by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Board. In order to prevent untoward incidents, security personnel had been deployed in adequate numbers in the sensitive areas.
The temple, which was closed for nearly ten years due to conflict between dalits and upper castes, has been opened and poojas would be performed on regular basis by all, officials said.
A section of the upper caste Hindu families resisted the entry of dalits in the past even though the local munsiff court permitted them to enter the temple.
Due to tension, both dalits and the upper castes left their homes in the village and settled in nearby hills. The issue gained prominence after the CPM state unit recently threatened to take dalits inside the temple. On December 17, CPM volunteers courted arrest, trying to enter the temple.
After this, the district administration initiated steps to facilitate the entry of dalits into the temple. It is all government show now. They have done what we threatened to do, said a local CPM leader.
PTI
