Temple festival dispute turns fatal in Pamban; relatives stage road blockade demanding arrests

RAMANATHAPURAM Relatives of a 56-year-old man, who died from injuries sustained in a group clash, staged a road blockade in front of the Government Medical College Hospital in Ramanathapuram on Saturday. The deceased, Muneeswaran, 56, had been receiving treatment following an altercation between two groups in Pamban over a local temple festival. The conflict started from a dispute over renovation work and the consecration ceremony held on November 2 at the Sandana Mariamman Temple in Pamban, near Rameswaram, which was organised by brothers Bharathirajan and Muneeswaran.

Another local faction, including Arun Kumar and Balaji, opposed the rituals, leading to friction. Following the ceremony, revenue department officials intervened and held peace talks, advising both parties to visit the temple only for worship without causing trouble. On the night of November 2, while Bharathirajan, Muneeswaran, and their families were preparing pongal at the temple, Arunkumar, Balaji, and others allegedly arrived and began taunting them.

The verbal altercation quickly turned physical.