Home State Kerala Marad, Kerala: Navas, Linked to 2003 Marad Massacre, Vandalises Temple, Breaks Ayyappa...

Marad, Kerala: Navas, Linked to 2003 Marad Massacre, Vandalises Temple, Breaks Ayyappa Idol, Brutally Assaults Octogenarian Priest

By
The Commune
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marad ayyappa bhajana madom madam navas assault vandalise sreenivasan

A religious site dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, known as the Ayyappa Bhajana Madam in Marad, was vandalized in a late-night attack, on 7 June 2025 sparking outrage. The assailant reportedly destroyed the Thulasithara, idols, smashed ritual lamps, and desecrated the Homakundam (sacred fire pit) before attacking the 80-year-old temple priest leaving him severely injured.

The priest’s cries alerted nearby residents and devotees, who rushed to the temple. Navas fled but then attempted to attack another temple, the nearby Marad Chottanikkara Temple, where he damaged its gate before being apprehended by the police and local residents.

Summary:

  • The accused, identified as Navas, a local resident who runs a catering business in Chennai, allegedly claimed affiliation with the Mujahideen group during the attack.
  • He forcibly entered the premises, destroyed the Ayyappa idol, and assaulted the temple’s elderly caretaker, leaving him with severe injuries. The priest is currently hospitalized.

Police sources initially suggested the accused may have mental health issues, a claim that has drawn skepticism, citing a pattern of similar explanations in past cases of religious desecration.

Marad has been a sensitive region since the 2003 Marad massacre, where eight Hindu fishermen were killed in a communal clash. The latest incident has reignited fears of escalating tensions.

Critics allege that Kerala’s law enforcement frequently dismisses such attacks as acts of “mental illness” rather than addressing potential communal motives. Comparisons were drawn to recent controversies, including:

  • The Guruvayur Tulsi plant desecration (where the accused was also labeled mentally ill).
  • A Kozhikode man’s false claim about INS Vikrant’s location during India-Pakistan tensions.

During his detention, Navas was reportedly uncooperative and aggressive, at one point invoking “Mohi-e-Deen” and challenging the police, threatening revenge. Authorities also recovered a bag from him containing an Arabic book with a green cover. Initial statements from the police suggested that Navas might be mentally unstable—a common claim in recent cases involving attacks on Hindu religious sites—but later comments from the Deputy Commissioner of Police indicated that no firm conclusion had been reached on his mental health status.

A multi-stakeholder meeting was convened in the aftermath, including representatives from political parties and community organisations, notably including the SDPI, the political wing of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI).

What has intensified public concern is Navas’s reported familial connection to an accused individual in the 2003 Marad massacre, in which eight Hindu fishermen were murdered in a communally charged incident. The 2003 tragedy continues to cast a long shadow over the region.

Commenting on the latest incident, Advocate Prakashbabu, BJP district president of Kozhikode, noted that the attack occurred on Bakrid and suggested that such an act might not have been carried out without encouragement or support. He called for a thorough investigation into possible extremist links.

The assault has sparked outrage among Hindus, who argue it highlights the growing threat posed by radical elements in Kerala. These groups have called on the state’s ruling LDF government and the UDF opposition to take decisive action against extremism and to refrain from what they allege is “vote bank appeasement politics.”

The police are continuing their investigation, and additional security has been deployed in sensitive areas to prevent further tensions.

(With inputs from Organiser)

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