Amidst tight police security and night patrolling, Vinayaka idols have been installed at several places in the district for Vinayaka Chaturthi which was celebrated with religious fervour on Thursday.
Though the Hindu outfits had obtained permission from the police for installing idols at 52 spots in Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai, their decision to install idols at 20 more places, including Muslim-dominant Pattapaththu near Tirunelveli Town, triggered tension.
When a few Hindu Munnani cadres tried to take the idol installed in Kumaran Street in Pattapaththu on an unauthorised route last year, it led to a lathi charge.
Hence, the officials denied permission for installing idols in the street this year. However, the Hindu Munnani cadres installed an idol, which was confiscated by Tashildar Maragathanathan and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Tirunelveli) Kandasamy.
The police picked up 19 persons, who attempted to stop the officials from removing the idol and released them later. The idol was taken to Tirunelveli taluk office.
In Tirunelveli district, Vinayaka idols have been installed at 288 places, which will be taken in procession on Saturday and Sunday for immersion in waterbodies, including the Tamirabharani.
The police, along with those who have installed the idols, have planned to provide round-the-clock protection till the idols are immersed. Though the devotees have been instructed to use only environmental-friendly idols, many idols have been made of plaster of Paris.
Tuticorin
In Tuticorin district, more than 350 idols have been installed at various places and all the idols will be taken out in procession for immersion either in the Tamirabharani or in the Gulf of Mannar on Sunday.
Kanyakumari
In Kanyakumari district, where more than 4,500 idols have been installed, the police instructed the devotees to shift the idols installed at Ganesapuram, Velli Pillaiyar Temple and CMC Colony, all under Colachel police station limits, to some other places, and it triggered tension for a while.
Laid siege
A group of Hindus laid siege to Colachel police station, saying that they had installed the idols only after obtaining police permission. They dispersed after Inspector of Police Sivaraj Pillai held talks with them and allowed them to keep the idols where they had already installed them.
