On Monday, February 20, a 54-year-old man attempted to immolate himself outside the collector’s office in Chennai. The man was identified as Gunasekaran from Vanuvampet in Puluthivakkam. Gunasekaran alleged that a piece of land that his father had purchased in 1975 was snatched from him by a DMK district councillor named JK Manigandan. He also accused the Chennai police and the councillor of not taking any action in his case.
Chennai| A 54-year-old man-Gunasekaran from Aadambakkam area tried to self-immolate in front of collector’s office on Feb 17.He alleged that his land was grabbed by a councillor named JK Manigandan from Puludivakkam.He filed a case in Madipakkam PS but no action was taken: Police pic.twitter.com/FOsj2oVutj
— ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2023
The victim stated that he had filed a complaint with both the police and the collector about the land-grabbing incident, but when no action was taken, he resorted to an extreme measure. Gunasekaran further alleged that when his house was demolished without his knowledge, he lost all of his documents. He does, however, have details of paying property and water taxes.
According to reports, the victim poured kerosene on himself and tried self-immolation outside the Chennai Collectorate. However, the people and the police standing outside the collector’s office poured water on him and stopped him from taking the extreme step.
Later, Gunasekaran narrated his ordeal to India Today and said, “The land was bought by my father in 1975. We gave it to a woman (Malliga) who constructed a house on the plot and used to give us rent. Suddenly, she stopped giving us rent. One day, a man named Lakshmant came over and told me that the land belonged to him and I must vacate it. Later, I came to know that Lakshmikant was benami of JK Manigandan, who is a DMK councillor.”
In response to the incident, BJP attacked the MK Stalin-led government, stating that the state is becoming a jungle for the lawless under the DMK.
A senior citizen tried to self-immolate in front of the Chennai collectorate.
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) February 20, 2023
It is learnt that a DMK councillor has occupied this senior citizen’s house by force.
Under the DMK regime, TN is slowly turning into a jungle for the lawless! pic.twitter.com/awYNsCwmD0
“A senior citizen tried to self-immolate in front of the Chennai collectorate. It is learnt that a DMK councillor has occupied this senior citizen’s house by force. Under the DMK regime, TN is slowly turning into a jungle for the lawless!” BJP State President Annamalai tweeted.
Waqf Board usurps 57 acres of Hindu farmer’s land, DMK misclassifying land ownership led to this
Incidentally, charges of land grabbing have become extremely common against the MK Stalin-led DMK government in Tamil Nadu. Recently, Hindu Munnani, a Tamil Nadu-based Hindu organisation, had initiated a protest against the MK Stalin-led DMK government in Tamil Nadu, accusing it of wrongdoing in connivance with the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, which resulted in the latter claiming ownership of 57 acres of a Hindu farmer’s land near Vellore.
Tamil Nadu Waqf Board claims ownership of 7 Hindu-majority villages and a 1500-year-old temple
It must be recalled here how last year, OpIndia reported how the Tamil Nadu Waqf board had claimed ownership of 7 Hindu villages in the state. The villagers had additionally, alleged that the Waqf Board also claimed that the 1500-year-old Sundareswarar Temple belongs to them. Notably, the Waqf Board has placed posters across the villages claiming ownership of the village land.
This news came days after it was reported that the Waqf Board had encroached on an entire hamlet with a Hindu majority population in Tamil Nadu.
