Chennai, July 3, 2013: Perhaps no other organisation would have lost so many of its dedicated band of leaders as the Hindu Munnani had in the past. The recent murder of state secretary S. Vellayappan is a grim reminder that this frontal organisation of the Sangh Parivar in TN has attracted more foes than friends.

The organisation, which promotes itself as the militant arm of the Hindus, has been insisting that there has been foul play in the deaths. “The state government is aware of such political murders. Only the government can stop such incidents,” says Ramagopalan, Hindu Mu­n­nani founder who formed the organisation in 1980 as a fallout of the Meenak­shipuram conversions of dalits to Islam.

It emerged as the inspirational force in conducting the Ganesh Chaturthi procession in a grand manner annually. The Hindu outfit was started with a small idol and a group of 5-6 people in Triplicane and gradually spread to other parts of the state. 

“No need,” he replied when asked if he would make a representation to the state government seeking steps to prevent that attacks on the organisation’s cadres. Rama­gopalan said that his party men have been the target of attack but decl­ined to name those behind the attacks.

Hindu Munnani secretary Veera Ganesh was killed in Coimbatore in 1989, another secretary Sivakumar was brutally murdered in Coimbatore in 1991 and a volunteer Karthikeyan was killed in Mettupalayam. In 1984, Rama Gopalan was brutally attacked allegedly by Al Um­­ma activists in Mad­urai and had a providential escape.

The killing of 45-yr-old Vellayappan evoked sympathy from the locals and trading community in Ambur and Vellore. He was among those instrumental in establishing the Golden Temple and just a few days before his death, Vellayappan had taken part in the Munnani’s agitation at the Vellore Fort protesting against the takeover of Jalakan­tesw­arar temple by the state HR and CE department.

Sporadic protests over Murder 

Chennai:  Over 280 cadres of Hindu Mun­nani were detained by police on Tuesday when they tried to stage protest and block roads in different parts of the city after S. Vella­yap­pan was murdered in Vellore on Monday.

Hindu Munnani cad­res pelted stones and damaged a MTC bus transporting its employees near Basin Bridge on Mo­nday night condemning the murder. The protesters were demanding arrest of the people responsible for the murder. All the det­ained cadres were rele­ased in the evening.

Meanwhile, party men and their leader Rama Gopalan paid their last respects to Vellay­app­an, before the body was taken to his native Sankarankovil in Tiru­ne­lveli for cremation which may take pla­ce on Wednesday mor­ning. The body was taken at 4 pm by van along with police escort to Sanka­rank­ovil, said sources.

Sources: Deccan Chronicle, DT. July 3, 2013.