A young man named Poorna Chandran, committed suicide by setting himself on fire in Madurai today (18 December 2025), reportedly in protest against the DMK government’s decision to disallow devotees from lighting the sacred Karthigai Deepam at the Deepathoon on the Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple hill.
Speaking to reporters, Poorna Chandran’s brother Ramadurai broke down and said “My brother’s name is Poorna Chandran. We live in the Narimedu area of Madurai. He left home in the morning for work on his vehicle. In the evening, people from the station called. They told me that he set himself ablaze. He had sent a voice message to his friend who sent it to me and I got to know only after that. He apparently told that he is going to self-immolate for not letting Deepam to be lit at Thirupparankundram.”
தீபம் ஏத்த முடியல… ஈ.வெ.ரா சிலை முன்பு.. இளைஞரின் விபரீத முடிவு….#thiruparankundramissue #thiruparangundramkovil #swaminathan #hrce #sekarbabu #waqfboard #waqf#tamiljanam pic.twitter.com/E5qQ2VUGgW
— Tamil Janam (@TamilJanamNews) December 18, 2025
When reporters asked whether he had listened to the audio, he replied that he had, and that it was only after hearing the voice message that he came to know that his brother had self-immolated.
He apparently told in his voice message that he is ending his life before the statue of Periyar, who said ‘There is no God’ and hoped that his sacrifice would pave way for the Deepam to be lit next year.
He also stated that Poorna Chandran had never expressed any such thoughts to him earlier.
Describing him as a devout Murugan devotee, Ramadurai said his brother frequently visited Sathuragiri.
Poorna Chandran is survived by his wife and two children—one studying in Class 4 and the other about to begin pre-KG.
BJP Tamil Nadu President Nainar Nagenthiran slammed the DMK government saying that its religious hatred has burnt a Tamil instead of the fire being lit at Deepathoon.
“I have no words of solace to offer the family of the one who became a victim of the DMK government’s futile obstinacy.“, Nainar Nagenthran said.
திமுக அரசின் மதவெறியால் தீபத்தூணிற்கு பதிலாகத் தீப்பிடித்து எரியும் தமிழர்கள்!
திருப்பரங்குன்ற தீபத்தூணில் கார்த்திகை தீபமேற்ற உயர்நீதிமன்றமே உத்தரவிட்ட பிறகும் கூட, தங்கள் அரசியல் காழ்ப்புணர்ச்சிக்காகத் திமுக அரசு அதை செயல்படுத்த மறுத்ததைக் கண்டித்து, மதுரை நரிமேடு பகுதியைச்… pic.twitter.com/LPgvRmdOuN
— Nainar Nagenthran (@NainarBJP) December 18, 2025
Reacting to this tragic incident, BJP leader Annamalai said “The news of the death of an ardent Muruga devotee, brother Mr. Poorna Chandran, from Narimedu area of Madurai city, by setting himself on fire is deeply shocking and saddening. The case is in the court. We all have complete faith in the courts. In this situation, the fact that Brother Thiru. Poornachandran has taken such a regrettable decision is extremely heartbreaking. Each and every one of us is important to their families. I humbly request everyone not to take such decisions for any reason, ever.“
“I express my deepest condolences to the family of Brother Thiru. Poornachandran. I request the Madurai BJP brothers to provide the necessary assistance to them. I pray that the soul of Brother Thiru. Poornachandran attains the divine feet of Lord Murugan.“, Annamalai said.
Tamil Nadu BJP Youth Wing President Dr. SG Suryah slammed the DMK government saying that its anti-Hindu politics has claimed one life.
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