THIRUPARANKUNDRAM Sec 144 clamped after HC allows petitioner to light Deepam at hilltop

PROHIBITORY orders under Section 163 of the BNSS (Section 144 of CrPC) were imposed in Thiruparankundram area late on Wednesday amid a tense standoff between members of Hindu outfits, who wanted to light the Karthigai Deepam atop a stone pillar (Deepathoon) near a dargah on the Thiruparankudram hill, and police personnel deployed for security at the foothills.

- M S THANARAJ @ Madurai

Deepam lit at the Uchipillaiyar temple mandapam, the usual spot, in Thiruparankundram on Wednesday | K K SUNDAR

(K K SUNDAR)

Argument broke out between the state police personnel and a 60-member CISF unit after petitioner Rama Ravikumar, who was allowed by Justice G R Swaminathan of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court to light the Deepam atop the hill around 6pm on Wednesday, arrived at the foothills with the CISF contingent as ordered by the court and argued with the police to allow him and others accompanying him to climb up the hill to reach the Deepathoon. After three hours of standoff, the protesters finally lit camphor at the entrance leading to the hilltop and left the scene by 9.30pm.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice G Jayachandran will hear the appeal filed by the state against the single judge's direction on Thursday.