A series of incidents at the Guruvayur Temple have triggered fresh concerns and allegations regarding security lapses, with some observers linking the developments to possible extremist indicators, as reported in Janmabhoomi.
One of the incidents cited involves a person alleged to have recruited youths from Kerala into ISIS, who is said to have stayed at Panchajanyam, a hotel run by the temple’s Devaswom authority. The matter had reportedly reached the courts, though no significant action has been taken so far.
Another incident concerns a Kashmiri youth who arrived in Guruvayur and allegedly intruded into a temple ritual and carried out certain actions.
Subsequent claims, including a social media post by Shashikala Teacher, stated that the individual had distributed sweets bearing Eid greetings. She wrote on her Facebook handle, “News is widely spreading that a Kashmiri man distributed sweets with Eid greetings written on them at the Guruvayur temple premises and that he was arrested. People have also seen someone being taken away from the premises after being arrested. Guruvayur authorities must reveal the truth. If this has happened, it is extremely serious. It affects the safety of devotees. This is a Kerala where people do not hesitate to silence voices like mine that speak about this—making it fertile ground for such elements. He is said to be the accused: Tariq Ahmed (47), son of Abdul Ahmed, Karidar (Nougham police station), Jammu & Kashmir.”
Prior to official confirmation, netizens warned that the police would declare the individual mentally unstable. By evening, police issued a report describing the Kashmiri youth as mentally unstable and stated that he had been shifted to a mental health centre. Shashikala teacher also wrote on her Facebook when this development occurred, “Arrest of the Kashmiri youth from Guruvayur temple has now been turned into a ‘mental illness’ case! How did this “mentally ill” person come all the way from Kashmir specifically to Guruvayur? Was it because Guruvayurappan possessed him? Or did the spirit of some Guruvayurappan devotee enter him? The police and Devaswom authorities who quietly closed the case must explain. Or is the mental illness with you? In such a high-security place, how do you justify that CCTV did not capture his actions? Even if the CCTV footage was destroyed or suppressed, those responsible must be held accountable. Do not cover up things in the dark. At the very least, don’t celebrate this saying “a Kashmiri youth worshipping at Guruvayur shows secular Kerala.”
This sequence of events has drawn comparisons to earlier incidents in the temple town. In one such case, an individual running a hotel near the temple allegedly insulted the Tulasi platform. After the issue became controversial, police reportedly concluded that he was mentally unstable.
In another incident, on a significant day at the temple, a person rode a motorbike from the Satra gate to the Deepasthambham near the eastern entrance of the temple. Police again described the individual involved as mentally unstable.
These repeated instances have led to criticism questioning whether labeling individuals as mentally unstable is being used to cover up security lapses by the police and the Devaswom authorities.
Additional concerns have been raised regarding the temple’s free meal service, which is provided three times a day. Complaints have been filed alleging that even individuals booked under KAAPA cases have accessed the facility, though such complaints were dismissed.
Despite the temple being considered a high-security location, questions have also been raised over the absence of CCTV footage related to the Kashmiri youth’s actions. Allegations have surfaced claiming that the footage may have been destroyed or suppressed, though no official confirmation has been issued.
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