Thevar Jayanthi festivities commence at Pasumpon

The three-day long celebrations started with a yagasala pooja, which was performed by Sri Sivalingeeswara Swamigal of Kamatchipuri Adheenam of Coimbatore in the presence of family members of the freedom fighter. 

Following that, members of various Thevar outfits paid respects to the freedom fighter at Pasumpon. Then hundreds of women carried milk pots to the memorial. Also youngsters of the community brought torches to the memorial as a mark of respect. 

Though the celebrations started on Saturday, the main program is scheduled on Monday, where thousands of people attached to the Thevar community are expected to visit the memorial. To maintain law and order, four IGs, four, DIGs, 16 SPs, 20 ADSPs, 55 ASP or DSPs, 23 local units, 25 AR platoons, 22 TSP companies, 12 traffic units and four bomb detection and disposal units along with sniffer dogs will be deployed for security purpose and in total 7,000 policemen will be deputed. 

On Saturday, a tense situation prevailed near the memorial, when the police personnel asked the outfit members to remove the banners with pictures of living persons following the High Court order. They refused to remove and argued that the banners are kept in their patta land.

Sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dinakaran, TNCC chief Su Thirunavukkarasar, MLA Karunas and leaders of caste outfits such as Sridhar Vandaiyar and Sethuraman, who went to pay homage to Maruthu brothers, were booked for violating prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC. The 216th death anniversary of Maruthu brothers was observed at Kalayarkovil in Sivaganga district, on Friday. In total 68 cases were registered by the police.