THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A group of miscreants encroached on the residential premises of Traffic IG B. Sandhya at Kannammoola on Tuesday night and destroyed the idol of Chattambi Swami placed in front of the compound wall. The incident, which happened when four or five policemen were on duty at the residence, turned out to be a shame on the city police, which is struggling to deal with the increasing number of theft and attack cases in the city.
Serious tension developed in and around Kannammoola following the incident. From early morning, Chattambi Swami believers and Chattambi Swami Janmasthana Samrakshana Samithy activists rushed to the spot. They alleged that the idol and the makeshift temple were destroyed either by the policemen on duty or by goons hired by IG Sandhya. But, this was denied by the IG’s family. IG Sandhya was not at the residence when the incident occurred.
The Janmasthana Samithy has been observing a peaceful prayer strike in front of the 17-cent plot owned by Sandhya at Kannammoola, believed to be the birthplace of Chattambi Swami, demanding that a memorial for the Swami should be built there. The destruction of the idol took place on the 456th day of the strike.
As the news about the attack on the Chattambi Swami idol spread, politicians made a beeline for the property in dispute. CPI candidate for Thiruvananthapuram P. Ramachandran Nair was the first to reach the scene. He condemned the police action and tried to pick up an argument with Pettah CI Ramesh. The candidate was pushed back from the scene by the CI, which added fire to the tension.
What followed was a Suresh Gopi-style performance by V. Sivankutty MLA. He shouted at the DCP, AC and CI and warned them of dire consequences once the election was over.
A procession of candidates followed, with Shashi Tharoor, P.K. Krishnadas and A. Neelalohitadas reaching the spot and joining the protest.
Four Ministers also rushed to the scene. Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who had never visited the spot eventhough there had been a law and order issue for more than one year, arrived and visited the controversial property. “I will ask the DGP to probe the incident. A special cell will be constituted for the purpose,’’ he said.
When the protestors demanded action against CI Ramesh, who had manhandled P. Ramachandran Nair and women protestors, Kodiyeri said he would look into it after consulting with the Election Commission officials.
Ministers M. Vijayakumar, C. Divakaran and K.P. Rajendran also visited the spot and condemned the incident.
Meanwhile, locals found portions of the destroyed makeshift temple from the Kannammoola canal.
The tension eased after the police permitted the protestors to construct a small temple and install a new idol of Chattambi Swami there. The work of the temple was completed by evening. ‘Puja’ and ‘bhajan’ were held in front of the new idol at night.
In a press release issued here, the CPI asked the police not to give protection to those who had destroyed the idol of Chattambi Swami.
“The police should try to identify the culprits,’’ said the district committee of the party. It also condemned the attack on P. Ramachandran Nair.
In another press release, the BJP demanded that CI Ramesh and the guilty police personnel should be suspended within 24 hours. “BJP candidate P.K. Krishnadas will begin an indefinite fast if the government fails to take an action within 24 hours,’’ said the press note.
trivandrum@epmltd.com