On 11 February, a depressed housewife committed suicide after being beaten up and injured in a boundary dispute by Devaswom Board authorities. S Vijayakumari (46) was found hanging from the sunshade of her house at Sivakripa in Shivashakti Nagar near Aakkulam, about 10 km from the Thiruvananthapuram city center. 

“We do not have anyone, Sir; I am living for my daughter’s sake.” Kerala Kaumudi reported that these were her last words which she recorded to forward to the Medical College SHO Circle Inspector of police (CI). However, she could not send the message. 

Vijayakumari’s home lies next to the Thurvikkal Kunnam temple under the Ulloor sub-group of the Devaswom Board. Her house and courtyard are attached to the temple. It was their family temple and was taken over by the government 35 years ago.

Lately, Temple committee members began disputing the remaining three cents of land (around 1,300 square feet) where Vijayakumari’s family now lives. This argument has been going on for the past ten years. It is alleged that the dispute began when new Devaswom Board members entered the scene. They claimed that Vijayakumari usurped temple land!

On the 4th of this month, Devaswom Board members arrived under the pretext of cleaning the temple premises. They removed the surveyed boundary marker stone, leading to an altercation between Vijayakumari and temple president Ashokan. The lady was injured in the resulting conflict. 

It is unknown who authorized Devaswom Board officials to thrash women and take matters into their own hands. To make matters worse, the local police allegedly declined to help the lady even after she complained several times. 

On the same day, the housewife complained to the medical college police that Ashokan physically abused her. Following this, Ashokan filed a counter-complaint. Police registered both cases but did not take any action against the woman-abusing Devaswom Board member. 

In a suicide note found in the house, Vijayakumari had noted the names of the temple officials who physically abused her. The victim’s death statement to the Medical College CI, P Harilal, was found on her mobile phone. 

Vijayakumari’s relatives alleged that even after the attack, members of this gang kept threatening to kill her family. They had come with machetes and other weapons. 

Vijayakumari became highly distressed when police refused to take any action against Ashokan and his goons despite handing over the footage to the police. At the same time, the medical college police claimed that there was no mistake on their part and an investigation was underway. 

Vijayakumari is survived by her husband, Ajith Kumar, a security guard, and their only daughter Aditya, a Plus-two student. The lady wanted to see Aditya become a doctor, but unfortunately, she left before her dreams came true. Though Vijayakumari worked as a helper at the Aakkulam Anganwadi for several years, her confirmation came just four months back. 

Ajith worked in Saudi Arabia for 25 years and returned home barely three months ago. He now works as a security guard in a private firm. Their home on three cents of land is the only savings that the family had. 

Earlier, local devotees had complained to the Devaswom Board Commissioner and Vigilance department about corruption at the temple. After the recent issue, locals complained to the Kerala Women’s Commission. Though the Commission accepted the written complaint, it did not take any action to protect or counsel the victim.

Aditya said that she wants justice and those responsible for her mother’s demise should be brought to book. She alleged that local goons verbally abused her while going to school. Adidya added that she would complain to the Chief Minister and the Education Minister.

Kerala has several Devaswom Boards, filled with atheist Marxist Hindus In Name Only (HINO). Though communists engaging in such disputes and land grabbing are typical, it was uncommon to engage in such atrocities in the name of temples. Radical Islamists have usurped acres of temple land and continue to do so.

Allegedly, police are yet to take action against Ashokan and his goons. Even if they do, who do we blame for administrative lethargy? Who pushed the lady whose family donated the temple to suicide? Would Devaswom board officials try such shenanigans against a non-Hindu family?

Incidents like Vijayakumari’s suicide point to just one thing. Free Hindu temples from the government’s clutches, especially the nonbelieving HINOs and Abrahamic.