In a gruesome incident, a temple employee has been murdered in cold blood for questioning men who were using temple premises to consume alcohol in Tamil Nadu. The man had merely asked them to not spoil the sanctity of the temple and leave the premises.
Krishnan, a 55 year old man was working at the Navaneetha Krishna Swamy temple in Melaseval, Tirunelveli. On January 15, the day of Pongal, he had worked at the temple in the morning and left for his house to celebrate Pongal. When he returned to finish the remaining work he found a few men sitting on the temple wall and consuming alcohol.
Krishnan asked them to not desecrate the place and spoil its sanctity. He requested them to leave immediately. The drunkards started ganging up on him and hacked Krishnan with a sickle. Krishnan was rescued by the neighbours and admitted to the Tirunelveli Government Hospital. But he succumbed to the wounds and died. Krishnan had reportedly admonished them in the past for bringing their cattle inside the temple.
The incident has created an uproar in the state as declining law and order has become a serious problem for the public. Navaneetha Krishna Swamy temple where Krishnan worked is a 700 years old temple under the control of HRCE(Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Board). He was a temporary employee of the HRCE.
TN BJP President K Annamalai has condemned the DMK government for its negligence in maintaining law and order and providing protection to temples. “The hacking of HRCE employee Krishnan’s who admonished those who were consuming alcohol sitting on the temple compound, is shocking. On the one hand law order is lying in shambles in the state. On the other hand, HRCE, which should stop malpractices and illegal activities happening in temples, is concerned only about the hundi collection and neglecting providing basic amenities and protection for temples”, he wrote on Twitter.
“Opening liquor shops across the state for business has resulted in youngsters indulging in such crimes. HRCE minister Sekar Babu should stop acting like pleasing Gopalapuram family is his sole duty, and ensure safety of temple employees and their belongings immediately”. Annamalai also demanded that Krishnan’s family should be provided adequate compensation and his two sons should be given government employment.
Krishnan’s family has refused to take his mortal remains, demanding compensation and government job for one of his sons. Krishnan and his murderers reportedly belong to different jatis and his murder has caused tension in the village. His community allege that so far 4 men from their jati have been killed by the other jati men and are demanding protection from the government.
