A thick security blanket was in place in the temple town ahead of the Hindu Munnani’s call for a demonstration on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: ASHOK R
Prohibitory order was clamped and hundreds of policemen deployed in three layers of security arrangement in Tirupparankundram, Madurai on Monday, amid undercurrents of communal tension. Hindu and Muslim groups, in recent weeks, have been levelling allegations against each other over alleged consumption of non-vegetarian food in the hillock above the Subramaniya Swamy temple in Madurai, where a dargah is also situation.
A thick security blanket was in place in the temple town ahead of the Hindu Munnani’s call for a demonstration on Tuesday.
The city police have drawn five officers in the rank of Superintendent of Police from outside the city to prevent entry of the protesters near the 16-Pillar Mandapam of the temple, after Madurai City Police on Monday rejected permission for the proposed demonstration.
Meanwhile, Madurai District Collector, M.S. Sangeetha, promulgated prohibitory order in Tirupparankundram for two days beginning Monday till Tuesday midnight. Police deployment started on Monday evening.
“All these measures have been taken to prevent trouble mongers only. However, there would not be any restriction on devotees visiting the Kasiviswanthar temple and Sikkander dargah, both, on the top of the hillock, except for their thorough screening,” said Madurai City Police Commissioner, J. Loganathan.
The city police have beefed up security at all the 17 checkposts bordering Madurai City police limits with Madurai district police jurisdiction.
Besides, movement of suspected persons towards Tirupparankundram would be restricted within the city police with checkposts erected in every police station limits.
The police have cordoned off the entire area around the temple including the hillock. Additional police have been posted on the hillock and its entries from both sides.
The police said dispute over lighting of lamp over a pillar on the hillock has been going on for several years as both the dargah and the pillar are located closely.
However, the fresh controversy broke out after the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments objected to a animal sacrifice at the dargah during Kanthoori festival planned. The district administration told the dargah committee to resolve the dispute in the court of law.
While the dargah committee and Muslim outfit raised a banner of revolt, the visits by leaders including Ramanathapuram MP, Navas Kani and Manapparai MLA, Abdul Samad, triggered leaders of Hindu outfits to visit the Kasiviswanthar temple on the hillock. BJP floor leader in the Assembly, Nainar Nagendran, its senior leader, H. Raja, Hindu Munnani leader, Kadeswara Subramanian, visited the temple.
Against this backdrop, the Hindu Munnani along with others had called for a massive protest.
Published – February 03, 2025 09:23 pm IST