The members of Hindu Munnani, a religious outfit, protested against the arrest of five of its cadres in connection with the church vandalization issue at Gandhipuram here on Wednesday.
More than 1,500 cadres of the Hindu outfit staged a protest near the Town bus stand at Gandhipuram, alleging that they had filed a case in 2011 against the construction of the church, which was just 100 metres away from another place of worship. "The church was constructed on an encroached land. Moreover, they did not possess any approvals for the construction," Damu Venkateshwaran, state secretary of Hindu Munnai, alleged.
Kadaiswara Subramanian, state general secretary of the outfit, said as per Venugopal commission, two places of worship should have a minimum distance of 200 metres between them. "However, it was not followed in this case," he said. On March 12, several Hindu Munnani cadres vandalized the newly-constructed church at Kalapatti. A group of over 15 men damaged the compound wall, furniture and the main door of the church, after the policemen posted there couldn't stop them.
Local people alerted police station, following which more cops were sent and the cadres fled from the scene. The Kovilpalayam police booked a case against five members of the outfit, who were identified by the officials and church members, the very next day.
Members of the church said they had obtained all the approvals before the construction of the church, which was built in 1948. The prayer hall was just an extension to the existing building. "We checked with the tahsildhar, court and all documents. They have all approvals," a senior cop said.
More than 1,500 cadres of the Hindu outfit staged a protest near the Town bus stand at Gandhipuram, alleging that they had filed a case in 2011 against the construction of the church, which was just 100 metres away from another place of worship. "The church was constructed on an encroached land. Moreover, they did not possess any approvals for the construction," Damu Venkateshwaran, state secretary of Hindu Munnai, alleged.
Kadaiswara Subramanian, state general secretary of the outfit, said as per Venugopal commission, two places of worship should have a minimum distance of 200 metres between them. "However, it was not followed in this case," he said. On March 12, several Hindu Munnani cadres vandalized the newly-constructed church at Kalapatti. A group of over 15 men damaged the compound wall, furniture and the main door of the church, after the policemen posted there couldn't stop them.
Local people alerted police station, following which more cops were sent and the cadres fled from the scene. The Kovilpalayam police booked a case against five members of the outfit, who were identified by the officials and church members, the very next day.
Members of the church said they had obtained all the approvals before the construction of the church, which was built in 1948. The prayer hall was just an extension to the existing building. "We checked with the tahsildhar, court and all documents. They have all approvals," a senior cop said.