Droupadi Amman Temple In Tamil Nadu's Villupuram Sealed After Dispute Over Temple Entry

A team of officials led by Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) S Ravichandran, today (7 June), sealed the Dharmaraja Droupadi Amman temple in Melpathi village of Villupuram district under Section 145 (1) of the CrPC to avoid potential law and order issues.

The temple which is under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HRCE) department was in the news last month as the Adi Dravidars, who are Dalits, said that they were not being allowed entry into the temple by people belonging to other castes.

Few people belonging to the other dominant castes reportedly tried to immolate themselves in order to oppose the entry of the Adi Dravidars.

Officials held peace talks between different communities but they failed to reach a solution.

According to a report in The Hindu, people belonging to other castes have said that the deity is their Kuladevi and so the HRCE department had no right over the temple.

Representatives of the Adi Dravidars and other castes have been asked to come to the RDO's office on Friday ( 9 June) to file their written submissions.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu: Collector And SP Facilitates Temple Entry For Dalits In Pudukottai; BJP Leader Says, 'Failure Of Dravidian Model Of Social Justice'