Hindu Munnani


Hindu Munnani is a religious and cultural organisation based in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu which was formed to defend Hinduism and protect Hindu religious monuments.

History

Hindu Munnani was founded in 1980 or 1982 by Ramagopalan in the backdrop of the Meenakshipuram conversions. Since then, it has been lobbying for the rights of the Hindus, fighting the Islamic right-wing and radical Islamic political groups and vehemently opposing Christian conversions.

Objectives

The Hindu Munnani website describes its objectives as follows:
The Hindu Munnani first gained public awareness in 1982 when it began to mobilise the Hindu population of Ramanathapuram district in response to the Meenakshipuram conversions by Ishaatul Islam Sabha of South India Since then, the Hindu Munnani has often espoused the cause of Hindus.
However, the most remarkable achievement of the Hindu Munnani was the organisation of Vinayaka Chathurthi processions in Tamil Nadu. On 16 May 2006, the Hindu Munnani organised the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the installation of the shivalinga in the Jalakanteswarar temple in Vellore

Riots

The Vinayaga Chathurthi celebrations organised by the Hindu Munnani were often accompanied by sporadic incidents of communal violence. In 1993, there were bomb attacks made on the R.S.S. state headquarters at Chintadripet, Chennai. Islamic organisations were found guilty for the blasts and a crackdown was launched on extremist Islamic organisations. During the visit of Bharatiya Janata Party leader L. K. Advani and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Coimbatore in 1998, a series of thirteen blasts rocked the city, killing over fifty-eight people.
Recently, there have been clashes between the Hindu Munnani and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam over the remarks made by BJP leader Vedanti on DMK President and Chief Minister Karunanidhi. DMK cadres attacked the Hindu Munnani state headquarters in Chennai on motorbikes.

Murders of Hindu Munnani leaders

Thirukovilur Sundaram

In 1981, Hindu Munnani leader, Thirukovilur Sundaram was murdered at R. S. Puram in Coimbatore by Islamic fundamentalists.

S Vellaiappan

He was a senior leader of Hindu Munnani in Vellore. He was murdered by a gang of 8 people when he was headed towards Ramakrishna Math on his motorbike in July 2013.

K. P. S. Suresh Kumar

K P Suresh was the president of the Hindu Munnani for Thiruvallur East district. He was originally from Kanyakumari. He was murdered by people from Al Ummah, a Muslim terrorist organisation, in June 2014. Three members, Mohammed Samiuddin, Abdul Shameem and Sadiq, were arrested by the police in August 2014.

Jeevaraj

He was Hindu Munnani's Tirunelveli town secretary. He was murdered by his wife due to illicit relationship with other girl in July 2014.

C Sasikumar

C Sasikumar, 36, was returning home on a two-wheeler when a gang chased him on motorcycles and attacked him with sickles. He suffered eleven cut injuries and was struggling for life. The victim was later rushed to a private hospital, where he died. His body was taken to Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital where a postmortem was conducted.
His death triggered a riot.
The Hindu Munnani state president said his organisation’s patience was wearing thin, as the state government had failed to prevent a series of attacks on its workers Kadeswara C. Subramaniam, the State president of the Munnani, listed a series of attacks on his cadre including three murders.