Protests rise over Tangedco employee's death

Chennai: A day after the murder of a Tangedco employee, his relatives, worshippers at Peeliyamman temple and  residents blocked traffic on Gandhi Mandapam Salai at Kotturpuram here seeking to demolish the building, which was the centre of controversy in neighbourhood for the past nearly six months and led to the killing of Thyagarajan. The protesters, who squatted at the Anna Centenary Library junction from 10 am claimed that Thyagarajan gave up his life for protecting the temple land which was allegedly occupied by a local DMK functionary Ravi. They wanted the building to be sealed immediately and demolished. Ravi should be detained under the Goondas Act, they said.

Traffic resumed half an hour later after the protesters were moved to an interior street. Thyagarajan and his father Govindaraj were returning after taking part in the talks on the issue at the police station, when he was killed and his father was seriously injured. Ravi had reportedly undertaken a residential apartment construction in a land adjacent to Peeliyamman temple at Kotturpuram. He had allegedly taken possession of a 5,200 sq. feet land  to gain better access to his construction site. The land was stated to belong to the temple.

The local residents rebuilt a well belonging to the temple, which was demolished. After Thyagarajan and others moved the HR& CE department to initiate action against Ravi who they said obstructed the pathway belonging to the temple. They also obtained a stay order restraining Ravi from using the pathway. In the meanwhile, tension escalated in the neighbourhood, when Ravi managed to obtain power connection to the site. Thygarajan and his father were returning after talks on the issue at the police station when they were attacked by three men on a bike on Wednesday. Kotturpuram police have detained Ravi and Thomas of  Kottur in connection with the incident.