HC reiterates order to light Deepam on hill, TN moves SC

TENSION in Thiruparankundram continued for the second day as the standoff between the supporters of Hindu outfits and the state police regarding lighting of the lamp atop the hill on a Deepathoon near a dargah remained unresolved.

- VIGNESH V @ Madurai

Supporters of Hindu outfits protesting in Thiruparankundram | K K SUNDAR

(K K SUNDAR)

Though Justice G R Swaminathan of the Madurai Bench of the Madras HC, acting on a contempt petition on Thursday afternoon, reiterated his order and directed Madurai police commissioner J Loganathan to ensure full protection to the petitioners and their associates to light Karthigai Deepam on the Deepathoon, police refused permission citing a Special Leave Petition filed before the Supreme Court by the state late on Thursday.

Several BJP leaders, including chief of the state unit, Nainar Nagenthran, and their supporters, were detained and removed from the spot and taken in police vehicles. Petitioner Rama Ravikumar and scores of Hindu outfit members waited at the entrance of the foothills for nearly three hours, which was heavily fortified by the police with barricades, for permission to ascend the hill after Justice GR Swaminathan quashed the prohibitory order issued by Madurai Collector KJ Praveenkumar under Section 163 of the BNSS in Thiruparankundram. The protesters dispersed from the spot and normalcy was restored later.