For the second consecutive day, the temple town of Thiruparankundram in Madurai became a battleground between Hindu outfit cadres and the district police. The conflict centered on attempts to light a ceremonial lamp, or Deepam, at a non-traditional location on the hill, leading to arrests, detentions, and a massive police mobilization.
Court Order Meets Police Refusal
The day's events unfolded after a single judge of the Madras High Court ordered the Madurai city police to provide protection to a petitioner, Rama Ravikumar, and ten others. The order allowed them to climb Thiruparankundram hill to light the Deepam on Thursday. However, in a direct challenge to the judiciary, the police refused to grant permission. Authorities stated that allowing the act would be detrimental to public order, citing a scuffle that had occurred the previous day.
As hundreds of cadres from the BJP and other Hindu organizations assembled, tensions escalated rapidly. BJP’s state unit president, Nainar Nagenthran, engaged in a heated argument with police officials before being arrested. He was taken into custody along with several other prominent leaders, including H Raja and Amarprasad Reddy. In total, about 50 cadres and leaders were detained and held at two community halls in Thiruparankundram.
Massive Police Deployment and Protests
The police response was overwhelming. At least six IPS officers of superintendent of police rank, along with the city police commissioner and the southern regional inspector-general, were present on the ground. They commanded a force of more than 1,000 personnel deployed to maintain control and prevent any ascent of the hill.
Earlier in the day, around 50 Hindu outfit cadres had blocked Periyar Rathaa Veedhi, chanting slogans and criticizing the government. The situation grew tense as petitioner Rama Ravikumar and his supporters approached the hill's entrance. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) A G Inigo Thivyan announced that the police would appeal against the high court's order, which had quashed the prohibitory orders imposed on Wednesday under Section 163 of the BNSS. He urged the cadres to disperse from the temple town immediately.
A Repeat of Previous Day's Chaos
The scenes on Thursday mirrored the violence witnessed on Wednesday. On that day, cadres had breached security amidst a similar heavy police presence, leading to protests atop the hill and at the 16-pillar mandapam of the Sri Subramaniya Swamy temple. Two police personnel were injured in those clashes, and nearly 50 people were detained before being released later. Police confirmed they are analyzing video footage from Wednesday's incidents to identify more individuals involved in the protests.
The standoff highlights the ongoing friction between religious groups seeking to assert new traditions and law enforcement agencies prioritizing public order. With police vowing to appeal the court's decision, the legal and communal dimensions of the Thiruparankundram dispute are set to continue.
