In Tamil Nadu’s Palayankottai, seven individuals were fined ₹2,000 each for defacing Hindi text on a railway station signboard. Among them was a DMK state-level office-bearer. The group had painted over the Hindi portion of the sign in protest against the imposition of Hindi, demanding that only Tamil and English be used.
Following the incident, railway officials filed a complaint, and the case was taken to the Tirunelveli Fourth Judicial Magistrate Court. The judge found all seven guilty of damaging public property. They were given a choice between paying a ₹2,000 fine or serving one month in jail. All chose to pay the fine.
This event highlights the ongoing resistance in Tamil Nadu against the use of Hindi in public spaces. The state has a long history of opposing Hindi imposition, with strong support for preserving Tamil identity and linguistic rights.