Church built on dry water canal near Villupuram razed after court order

VILLUPURAM: The district officials on Monday demolished a church that was built encroaching upon a dry water canal at a village near Tiruvanainallur in Villupuram district, following an order by the Madras high court.
Tension prevailed at the village after scores of people attempted to prevent fficials from demolishing the church. Police managed to overcome their opposition and helped the district revenue officials to demolish the church using giant machinery.
Police said the attempts of the district officials to demolish the church 21 days ago were thwarted by the villagers.The officials then explained to the protesting villagers that the high court had issued an order to demolish the church as it was built encroaching upon a water canal, which feeds on Raghavan Canal at Parugampattu near Tiruvanainallur in the district. The officials gave 21 days' time to the villagers to decide on the issue.
The deadline expired on Monday and a team of officials from the revenue and fire and rescue services department reached the village and started demolishing the church with the help of giant machinery.
A heavy posse of police force was posted in the village to prevent any untoward incidents.
The villagers blocked the road leading to the church and offered mass meditation and prayers to prevent the officials from demolishing the church.
Police detained them and released them later in the evening. The high court passed an order last month directing the district officials to demolish the church and submit a report following a petition from a resident of the village.