Century-old Hindu shrine in Alor Setar torn down

What’s left of Sri Madurai Veeran shrine following its demolition by the Alor Setar City Council. (Vijhay Mohen pic)

ALOR SETAR: Some 200 city council officers descended on a century-old Hindu shrine here just after midnight today, before demolishing the structure despite protests from its caretaker.

The Sri Madurai Veeran shrine, which sits under a tree opposite the Alor Setar rail station, was reduced to rubble at 2am.

Its caretaker C Vijhay Mohen said he was escorted out of the area by policemen.

“Next thing you know, the backhoes came in,” he told FMT.

The Alor Setar City Council (MBAS) had served an eviction notice on the demolition plan a few weeks earlier, saying the shrine was built “illegally” on road reserve land and was disrupting traffic flow.

Vijhay said a police report would be lodged against the city council.

The Sri Madurai Veeran shrine under a tree near the Alor Setar railway station was built in the early 1900s. (Vijhay Mohen pic)

The shrine was founded by Vijhay’s great-grandfather and Indian labourers who worked in the construction of the railway between Butterworth and the northern frontier in the early 20th century.

Vijhay said Malayan Railways had given the spot on which the temple was built in the early 1900s, but attempts to register it with the Registrar of Societies was turned down with the excuse that it was “too small”.

When contacted, DAP’s P Ramasamy questioned why the authorities demolished the temple in the early hours of the morning and not during office hours.

“This act in itself indicates that the act of demolishing the temple in Alor Setar was based on religious and extremist sentiments,” he said.

FMT has contacted MBAS for further comments. - FMT