Thiruvananthapuram: The demolition of Gopan Swami’s tomb in Neyyattinkara and exhumation of his body remains uncertain as protests from the family and various organizations prompted police to temporarily halt the procedure on Monday.

Authorities held discussions with the family and representatives of organizations but maintained that demolishing the tomb and conducting a post-mortem are necessary to resolve the mysteries surrounding the 69-year-old’s death.

Gopan Swami’s son, Sanandan, strongly opposed the demolition, calling it wrongful and hurtful to religious sentiments. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, he said the matter would proceed based on the decision of the Hindu Aikya Vedi.

“No discussions have been held with us by the RDO or the collector. Authorities have stated that legal procedures must be followed. We will consult with the Hindu Aikya Vedi and decide accordingly,” Sanandan said.

Police said they plan to break the concrete structure where Gopan Swami was entombed by his children to exhume the body for a forensic examination. The district collector had granted permission for the procedure. On Monday, officials, including an RDO, police officers, and a forensic team, arrived at the site but halted the demolition due to protests. The situation escalated into a confrontation, leading authorities to suspend the operation temporarily.

Gopan Swami, also known as Maniyan, reportedly passed away on Thursday and was entombed according to his wishes. However, neighbors were not informed of his death, prompting locals to suspect foul play and file complaints with the police.

Authorities have registered a missing person case for Gopan Swami based on complaints from two locals. Police believe a forensic examination could determine the cause and time of death.