On Saturday, January 18, the Tamil Nadu police successfully thwarted attempts by several Islamist outfits, including the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) — the political arm of the outlawed Popular Front of India (PFI) — to carry out animal slaughter (Qurbani) near the sacred Madurai Hill in Thiruparankundram city. The hill is home to the revered Subramaniya Swamy Temple, a site of immense spiritual significance for Hindus.

The intervention followed a plea from Solaikannan, the Madurai district president of the Indu Makkal Katchi (IMK). In his appeal to Police Commissioner Loganathan, Solaikannan raised concerns about the proposed Qurbani ritual by Islamic groups at the Sikandar Badushah dargah, located on the sacred hill. He underscored the historical and religious importance of the site, emphasizing that the Thiruparankundram Subramaniya Swamy Temple hill is an ancient site of Hindu worship, where devotees have been practicing girivalam (circumambulation) on every full moon for centuries.

Despite prior warnings, a group of Muslims, led by Islamic Jamath leaders, attempted to approach the hill on Saturday with the intention of performing the sacrificial ritual. Their plans involved offering goats and chickens as Qurbani for a feast at the dargah. However, the police intervened promptly, barring entry to the Jamath leaders. According to officials, only prayers are permitted at the Sikandar Badushah dargah, and animal sacrifice is strictly prohibited.

The situation was further complicated by attempts from Islamic outfits to secure official permission for the sacrificial rituals. As per a Times of India (TOI) report, these groups had engaged in discussions with district administration officials, including those from the revenue department, in the preceding week. While they sought approval to conduct the Qurbani rituals at the dargah, the Madurai district administration firmly restricted their activities to prayers, denying any clearance for animal sacrifices.

Hindu Munnani members stood firm in opposing the attempt by Muslims to sacrifice animals on Thiruparankundram Hill, a sacred site regarded as one of Lord Murugan’s six hallowed abodes. The members expressed concern that such actions by Muslims were aimed at transforming the hill into an Islamic place of worship, undermining its historical and religious significance for Hindus.

Highlighting the importance of the site, K Annamalai, the state president of the BJP, drew attention to the rich Hindu legacy of the Thiruparankundram Hill. “Some people are calling the Thiruparankundram hill as Sikandar malai (hill),” said Annamalai, accusing the ruling DMK government of engaging in Muslim appeasement. He called for the preservation of peace on Thiruparankundram Hill, stressing that this sacred site, central to Hindu beliefs, must be respected irrespective of religious affiliations.

The controversy reached its peak on December 27, 2024, when a group of Muslims attempted to transport goats and chickens to the dargah on the Murugan Temple Hill for slaughter. The police promptly intervened, declaring the area off-limits for such activities due to its immense religious significance to Hindus. This hill is home to the revered Murugan Temple, considered one of Lord Murugan’s six holy abodes (Arupadai Veedu). Officials halted Syed Abu Dahir, a resident of Malaiyadipatti, along with his family, at the hill's base. Their denial sparked a protest by more than 20 Muslims, who rallied in solidarity with Dahir’s family.

The conflict has not been confined to animal sacrifices. Earlier this month, over 100 members of the Sikandar Mosque Committee and Aiyykiya Kootamaippu Jamath were briefly detained after demanding the reopening of the Sikandar Badushah Thozhugai Pallivasal mosque. On January 5, the protesting groups asserted that the mosque was built approximately 400 years ago by Sultan Sikandar and called for permission to offer namaz there.

The Hindu Munnani’s resistance, coupled with BJP leader Annamalai’s remarks, underscores a broader tension between safeguarding the sanctity of religious sites and the demands of various groups seeking to reinterpret their historical and spiritual relevance.

Subramaniya Swamy Temple Declared as the “Owner” of Thiruparankundram Hill

The Thiruparankundram Hill, a sacred site for Hindus, is home to several religious and historical landmarks, including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, a lamp post, and the revered Kallathi tree located at its peak. Historical records affirm its religious significance, with a ruling from the First Additional Subordinate Court during British rule declaring that “the owner of the Thiruparankundram hill is Subramania Swamy Temple.”

Despite this clear historical ownership, the hill has become a site of contention in recent years. Islamist outfits, particularly the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) — the political arm of the banned radical Islamist group Popular Front of India (PFI) — have sought to assert dominance over the hill. Since 2011, the SDPI has protested the installation of a flag near the lamppost on Thiruparankundram Hill. Most recently, they attempted to perform Qurbani on the sacred hill, a move widely interpreted by Hindus as an attempt to encroach upon and transform the hill into an Islamic religious site.

In response, Solaikannan of the Indu Makkal Katchi (IMK) appealed for decisive action to preserve the sanctity of the hill. He argued that allowing Qurbani on the hill would desecrate its spiritual importance to Saivite Hindus. “To protect the Jain temples and inscriptions located around the hill, he suggested that the entire area should be placed under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Department,” according to a report by The Commune. His call highlighted the need for comprehensive measures to safeguard the hill's historical and cultural heritage.

Local Hindus have also voiced their concerns, alleging that under the pretext of religious festivals, parts of the sacred hill have been systematically encroached upon by local Muslims. The state’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has faced criticism for engaging in Muslim appeasement politics, which many believe has escalated communal tensions.

The SDPI, whose activities are seen as an extension of the banned PFI, has a history of involvement in actions that fuel communal hatred, especially against Hindus. In a related incident in November, a 45-year-old former SDPI member was detained in Coimbatore on charges of attempting to convert a mother and her daughter to Islam. Security experts have repeatedly cautioned that members of banned terrorist outfits often evade detection by operating under new names or joining other organizations. This has prompted calls in Parliament to hold individuals accountable under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to counter such threats effectively.