News Tamil Nadu

Madurai Police Detain Islamists In Thiruparankundram For Attempting Animal Sacrifice At Sacred Hilltop

December 27, 2024
The Commune

Police intervened and detained Islamists who attempted to bring goats and roosters to a hilltop dargah in Thiruparankundram, Madurai district, and slaughter them for ‘sacrifice’. Syed Abu Dahir, 53, from Malaiyadipatti in Rajapalayam, arrived at the dargah with his family, a goat, and two roosters for the ritual.

Thiruparankundram, is a sacred site for Hindus, renowned for its famous Murugan Temple. This temple is regarded as the first of the six holy abodes (Arupadai Veedu) of Lord Muruga, making the hill a revered spiritual destination for millions of devotees.

Authorities stopped the group at the base of the hill, informing them that taking livestock up the hill was prohibited. This led to a protest by more than 20 local Muslims from Thiruparankundram, who gathered at the hill’s steps in support of the family.

Assistant Commissioners of Police Gurusamy, Ganesan, and Seetharaman, along with RTO Kannan, arrived at the scene to mediate. The protesters argued that sacrificing animals at the dargah, cooking, and consuming them had been a long-standing tradition.

The RTO advised the group to submit a formal petition, assuring them that it would be forwarded to the government for a decision. However, the protesters refused to comply and resumed their demonstration. In response, the police arrested 10 individuals, including those who had brought the animals. All were released later. The incident ignited tension in the area, with accusations that the individuals had deliberately tried to create religious discord, potentially threatening the peaceful coexistence in Thiruparankundram—a place of great spiritual significance for Hindus.

In response, the Hindu Munnani has strongly criticized the situation, condemning what they describe as an attempt by some Islamic fundamentalists to deliberately stir up controversy. They accused these individuals of claiming Thiruparankundram hills as “Sikandar Hill” and attempting to sacrifice goats there. The organization also questioned the silence of the police, despite a ruling from the High Court stating that the hills belong to Lord Murugan.

The Hindu Munnani stated, “Is Thiruparankundram, the first of the six abodes of Lord Muruga, a Murugan Hill, or is it Sikandar Hill of  Muslims? It is well known that Thiruparankundram Murugan Hill is the first of the six abodes, integral to the lives and worship of Tamils, in  accordance to the belief that wherever there is a hill, there will be Kumaran. In this situation, recently, Muslims have been illegally burying bodies of deceased on the Thiruparankundram Murugan Hill, claiming it as Sikandar Hill. Dravidian parties also watching this without taking actions prioritizing vote-bank politics, even after the court ruled that the Thiruparankundram hill belongs to Lord Murugan. The situation in Thiruparankundram remains indifferent, as even the lamp lights on the hill cannot be lit to this day.” 

“Taking advantage of this situation, some Islamic fundamentalists have spread the false claim that Thiruparankundram Hill is Sikandar Hill, aiming to create religious unrest by going to celebrate the Kanduri festival by sacrificing a goat on the hill, which is worship as a deity. Their goal is purely political gain through religious conflict. The police, who should have stopped this, instead they folded hands demonstrating their incompetence. Why is the police, which has prevented the lighting of the lamp in Deepathur despite a court order, reluctant to take action against those inciting riots by falsely claiming to celebrate the Kanduri festival? It is enough that the police acted on the orders of politicians. The police have acted based on political instructions before, so why are they not acting now? The Islamic fundamentalists who clashed with the police in an attempt to celebrate Kanduri festival to fuel religious hatred should be immediately arrested and jailed.” It Added.

(With Inputs From Dinamalar)

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