Coimbatore : In a midnight drama between the villagers and forest department officials at Mettupalayam, the villagers staged a road roko on the MTP-Kotagiri road condemning the forest department for denying access to perform religious rituals at the temple nestled inside the Mettupalayam’s Sirumugai Forest area on Friday.
Coimbatore : In a midnight drama between the villagers and forest department officials at Mettupalayam, the villagers staged a road roko on the MTP-Kotagiri road condemning the forest department for denying access to perform religious rituals at the temple nestled inside the Mettupalayam’s Sirumugai Forest area on Friday.
More than 500 people from 30 villages including Oomapalayam, Mothepalayam, Kandiyur, Dhayanur perform annual rituals during the month of Chithirai at Periyasamy Ayyanar temple situated in deep forest of Mettupalayam.
This year, when the villagers had sought permission from the forest department to visit the temple, the department had denied permission citing wild animal movement especially elephants.
Irked by the denial of permission, more than 500 villagers approached the forest check post at Mettupalayam during midnight of Saturday and attempted to enter the forest. An argument broke out between the forest officials and the villagers following which they staged a road block on the Mettupalayam – Kotagiri road.
However, the villagers got past the check post and entered the forest to perform their ritual which they claim to be carrying out for over three decades.
"Considering the safety of the public, we had denied permission. Owing to drought, increased elephant movement is reported around the water bodies inside the forest. Action will be taken against the villagers who got past into the forest by violating laws", said a forest official.
More than 500 people from 30 villages including Oomapalayam, Mothepalayam, Kandiyur, Dhayanur perform annual rituals during the month of Chithirai at Periyasamy Ayyanar temple situated in deep forest of Mettupalayam.
This year, when the villagers had sought permission from the forest department to visit the temple, the department had denied permission citing wild animal movement especially elephants.
Irked by the denial of permission, more than 500 villagers approached the forest check post at Mettupalayam during midnight of Saturday and attempted to enter the forest. An argument broke out between the forest officials and the villagers following which they staged a road block on the Mettupalayam – Kotagiri road.
However, the villagers got past the check post and entered the forest to perform their ritual which they claim to be carrying out for over three decades.
"Considering the safety of the public, we had denied permission. Owing to drought, increased elephant movement is reported around the water bodies inside the forest. Action will be taken against the villagers who got past into the forest by violating laws", said a forest official.