Vellore district police on Sunday arrested over 300 cadre of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Communist Party of India (Marxist), for trying to demolish the newly constructed compound wall of Sri Padavedu Amman Temple in Walajapet Town. “The compound wall had been constructed after a decision was taken at a peace committee meeting between representatives of Dalits living in Ambedkar Nagar and Caste Hindus in the town, on July 12,” said a police official.
However, a portion of the compound wall had been demolished by a section of residents of Ambedkar Nagar on August 19. This incident had snow-balled into a controversy and had led to unrest among the two communities.
On Friday, a section of residents of Ambedkar Nagar and party cadre of VCK, CPI (M) and BSP stuck posters on the controversial compound wall of the temple and other parts of the town stating that the three parties would stage a protest and demolish the wall that highlighted ‘caste discrimination’ and ‘untouchability’, said police sources.
There was tension in the town during the morning hours of Friday, when the cadre of the three parties gathered in front of the bus stand to march towards the temple on Ammur Road to demolish the compound wall. As a precautionary measure, around 300 policemen were deployed in and around the temple to prevent protestors from demolishing the wall. Police arrested protestors led by Bheema Rao, a CPI (M) cadre and Maduravoyal MLA, and lodged them in a marriage hall. They were later released.
Bheema Rao, before being arrested, said police should withdraw the cases filed against the Dalits, who had demolished a portion of the compound wall on August 19, and the HR&CE dept should take over the temple. Superintendent of Police of Vellore, I Eswaran, said they would continue to deploy police personnel around the temple, until an amicable solution was arrived at.
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