: A PIL, seeking to lift prohibitory orders imposed by the Ramanathapuram district authority ahead of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar 'Gurupooja' from October 25 to 31, has been filed before the Madras High court bench.
Petitioner Manickavasagam also sought a direction to police to allow followeres of Muthuramalinga thevar hire vehicles for attending the Gurupooja, which falls on Oct 30.
Justices V Dhanapalan and V M Velumani directed the Ramanathapuram District Collector and Superintendent of Police to file their counter and adjourned the matter to October 28.
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In Ramanathapuram district, the death anniversary of Dalit leader Immanuel Sekaran is observed on Sept 11 each year at Paramakudi village and Thevar gurupooja celebration is held from Oct 28 to Oct 30 at Pasumpon village.
Both events were held under a tense atmosphere in the communally senstive ramanathapuram district.
In 2011, five persons were killed and 30 injured when police opened fire at Paramakudi on Sept 11 when those who had gathered to pay homage to the leader allegedly turned violent.
In 2012, six persons were killed in Thevar gurupooja violence.
To prevent any untoward incidents during the Immanuel Sekar celebration District Collector K Nanthakumar on Sept 8 this year promulgated prohibitory orders for two months, based on recommendations of The SP N M Mylvahanan.
Prohibitory orders were clamped from Oct 25 to 31 in ramanathapuram district when the gurupooja for Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar (a freedom fighter and thevar community leader) was to be celebrated.
As part of the prohibitory order,the collector has suspended entry of hired vehicles, tractors, two wheelers and auto-rickshaws carrying volunteers for the Thevar gurupooja event.
Thevar gurupooja falls on Oct 30.
