Officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have begun removing green paint that was deliberately applied to ancient Jain caves at Thiruparankundram Hill, a site of significant religious and historical importance.
‘Unidentified individuals’ vandalized the Jain cave on the hill’s side by painting it green a week or so ago. The vandalism came to light after Shankar, Assistant Conservation Officer of the ASI, filed a complaint. The Thiruparankundram police registered a case under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act), and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 (PDPPA).
Thiruparankundram Hill, revered as the first Arupadai Veedu (abode) of Lord Murugan, is sacred to Hindus. It also houses Jain caves with Tamil Brahmi inscriptions from the 2nd century BCE to 2nd century CE, along with bas-reliefs of Parsvanatha and Mahavira from the 8th to 9th century. These caves, protected by the ASI, hold immense historical and spiritual value.
The Issue
Tensions flared on December 27, 2024, when Madurai police detained a family attempting to bring goats and roosters to the hilltop dargah for ritual sacrifice. Led by Syed Abu Dahir, a 53-year-old from Malaiyadipatti, the family protested after being stopped at the base of the hill. Their detention sparked demonstrations by over 20 local Muslims in solidarity.
On January 5, 2025, another group of Muslim protesters gathered at the hill, demanding access to the mosque for prayers. When police denied their request, the situation escalated, resulting in a brief scuffle and several detentions.
Further unrest followed the announcement of an “Equality Feast” (Samaanbhojan) scheduled for January 18 at the hilltop dargah. Social media posts indicated plans for goat and rooster sacrifices during the event. Concerned about communal violence, authorities erected barricades and conducted searches to prevent livestock from being transported to the site. When protesters were informed that animal sacrifices were prohibited, clashes erupted between Jamath members and the police, disrupting the area further.
Compounding the issue, the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), an AIADMK ally linked to the banned group PFI, has been accused of orchestrating these sacrilegious acts to inflame tensions.
On January 21, 2025, controversy deepened when DMK Manapparai MLA Abdul Samad conducted an unauthorized survey around the temple, allegedly to assert control over the hill. The same day, IUML leader Navas Kani reaffirmed in an interview that the dargah falls under the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board’s jurisdiction, further fueling the conflict.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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