According to the victim’s father, the incident took place on September 21 at around 4:30 pm when Akhilesh (12) was on his way to attend a religious event.
Some miscreants allegedly attacked and threatened a 12-year-old boy in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli for wearing “janeu“, a sacred thread worn by people from Brahmin community. The unidentified men also allegedly cut off his sacred thread and threatened him against wearing it in the future.
According to the victim’s father, the incident took place on September 21 at around 4:30 pm when Akhilesh (12) was on his way to attend a religious event. Subsequently, four to five miscreants allegedly attacked him and cut off his sacred thread. They also warned and threatened him for wearing it in the future.
The incident caused widespread outrage with BJP and AIADMK blaming the MK Stalin-led DMK government for fostering an environment of hostility.
Tamil Nadu BJP Vice President Narayanan Thirupathy strongly condemned and expressed his outrage over the incident.
“I strongly condemn the attack and the death threat on a 12-year young boy ‘Akilesh’ at Thiyagraja Nagar, Tirunelveli. Attacking him, the hooligans had cut the sacred thread he was wearing. He was also threatened that he should not wear the sacred thread in future. Wearing a sacred thread is not only a belief, but it’s a tool of worship not only praying for one’s wellness but for the wellness of one’s family and the society as a whole,” Thirupathy said in a long post on X.
I strongly conemn the attack and the death threat on a 12 year young boy ‘Akilesh’ at Thiyagraja Nagar, Tirunelveli.Attacking him, the hooligans had cut his sacred thread he was wearing. He was also threatened that he should not wear the sacred thread in future. Wearing a…— Narayanan Thirupathy (@narayanantbjp) September 22, 2024
The BJP leader further emphasised that the wearing of a sacred thread is not limited to Brahmins, countering a common misconception.
“In the past 75 years, some evil forces like Justice Party and Dravidar Kazhagam & the DMK had created an impression that only Brahmins wear the sacred thread. However, most of the communities like Chettiars, Ayravaisiyas, goldsmiths, carpenters and sculptors had rituals of wearing and changing their sacred thread as a duty and belief during the important changes in their lives,” he said.
He further criticised those behind the attack, saying, “Cutting a sacred thread from a person is the height of stupidity, as the imperialist Britishers who created the illusion that Brahmin society has subjugated other societies and hence these fools want to destroy that society. It is the same pseudo-secularists and politicians who claim that there is no caste but are engaged in conspiring to seize political power on the basis of castes, are the ones engaged and instigating the cutting off the religious symbol of sacred thread by stating that all those who wear it are Brahmins.”
He further called on CM Stalin to take immediate action.
“It is the duty and responsibility of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, who claims ‘I am the Chief Minister for all’, to order the arrest of those evil forces who had cut the sacred thread and attacked the young child and render justice,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Tirunelveli police have registered the complaint in CSR (Community Service Register) and initiated a probe into the matter.
