SASTHAMCOTTA: Officials of the Muthupilakkadu Parthasarathy Temple Managing Committee announced in a press conference that they will launch strong protests against the Sasthamcotta police for failing to act on their complaint weeks after DYFI workers, led by a Block Panchayat member, allegedly vandalized the temple premises. Committee members noted that despite weeks passing since the violent incident, police have failed to register proper charges or initiate further procedural action. Attackers destroyed the temple offering box (Vanchi) along with the Lord Krishna idol placed atop it, and damaged a flagpole erected near the temple for Janmashtami celebrations.
The committee highlighted that instead of arresting the culprits, police officers have been repeatedly raiding the houses of active temple committee members and devotees, including a serving military officer, day and night. Officials termed the action highly unfair and biased toward the perpetrators. To protest this inaction, the committee announced that a mass rally to the police station involving hundreds of devotees will be organized in the coming days.
According to the temple Tantri (chief priest), a ‘Devaprashnam’ (astrological consultation) and corrective rituals costing around ₹5 lakh must be conducted to re-install the destroyed offering box and Lord Krishna idol. The committee demanded that police arrest the perpetrators and attach their properties to recover the expenses, alleging that police are instead harassing devotees who assisted in identifying the culprits.
The committee further alleged that the First Information Report (FIR) submitted by the police in court shows clear moves to shield the accused, including the CPM Block Panchayat member. A group of miscreants led by DYFI leader and Block Panchayat member Aravind allegedly went on a rampage under the cover of darkness without any provocation, destroying the temple offering box and attacking several houses in the vicinity, including that of a soldier associated with the temple.
The violent acts, which lasted several hours, were recorded on mobile phones and handed over to the police. The attackers reportedly threatened several passersby along the Cinimaparambu-Kottarakkara route using lethal weapons like swords. The group attempted to escape in a car when more locals assembled, eventually driving into the residence of a local CPM leader at nearby Thuruthikkara as police and residents pursued them. Following intense protests from devotees demanding the arrest of the group and seizure of weapons, police detained three individuals from the house, including the Block Panchayat member, while others fled.
However, while taking the arrested persons for a medical examination at Kundara Taluk Hospital, a group of DYFI workers forcibly rescued one of the main accused, Sarath Sashi (25) of Kollam. At the time, only a single Grade SI was present at the hospital, highlighting a grave security lapse. Following high-level police intervention and discussions with CPM leaders, the escaped suspect was later handed back to the police.
The committee noted that key persons involved in rescuing the suspect at the hospital were local party office-bearers from Sasthamcotta, Mynagappally, and Muthupilakkadu. Although the Kundara CI collected photographs and details of the involved DYFI leaders shortly after the incident, police released them unconditionally after they later presented themselves, raising allegations of collusion.
The committee further alleged that police deliberately omitted conspiracy details from the FIR submitted to the court. Investigations revealed that the conspiracy was planned at a hotel owned by a CPM Area Secretary’s son in Muthupilakkadu, where Block Panchayat member Aravind participated, drew up the plan, and provided vehicles. By omitting these details from the FIR and framing it as a simple assault, the police entered into a political compromise involving CPM and Congress leaders, the committee claimed, noting that a joint CPM-Congress panel had suffered a heavy defeat in the recent temple committee elections.
Several key accused in the attack on the famous South Kerala temple have now approached the District Court seeking anticipatory bail. The committee noted that police deliberately avoided raiding the residences of these suspects. Temple Committee President K.R.G. Pillai and Secretary Sasikumar stated that if the culprits who hurt the religious sentiments of devotees are not arrested immediately, a ‘Namajapa’ (prayer) procession involving hundreds of devotees and women will be organized to the police station.
For more details: Navamalayalam.com