Tension prevailed at Kunichampet following a threat by a Dalit organisation to take out a march to Sri Kamatchi Sameta Boodandheeswarar temple in a village about 25 km from here on Friday morning.
Three days ago, pamphlets and posters appeared at Kunichampet announcing a march by the organisation to the temple to protest against the decision of the temple authorities to deny permission to dalits at Sri Kamatchi Sameta Boodandheeswarar temple and Sri Draupadiamman Alayam. The temple was in the news in April after a clip of a Dalit woman being turned away from the temple went viral on social media. The organisation had alleged that the temple authorities continued to stop Dalits from entering the temple and hence it was taking out a march. On hearing about the march on Friday, people of other castes assembled near the temple.
Tight security
A huge posse of the police personnel had been deployed near the temple to maintain peace. The members of the rival group said dalits from the locality were free to enter the temple but were upset that an organisation was planning a protest march. Although the organisation did not take out the march, the rival group refused to leave the spot and the police had to cane the crowd. The situation was defused after a team led by District Collector Abijith Vijay Chaudhary, Inspector-General of Police Surender Singh Yadav, Senior Superintendent of Police (Law and Order) Apoorva Gupta and Superintendent of Police (West) Gunasekaran held talks with the rival groups.
Later, members of the two groups were taken inside the temple to offer prayers.
