SRIRANGAM (Tamil Nadu), Dec 12: Five persons, including Ayyappa devotees from Andhra Pradesh and security staffers of the State Hindu Religious and Endowment Board (HR and CE) were injured after a brawl inside the World-renowned Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam on Tuesday.
Temple sources said the incident occurred at Gayatri Mandapam, when a group of around 34 devotees attempted to push their way into the sanctum sanctorum and knocked the temple hundial. The security staff, who were engaged in regulating the crowd, questioned the rude behaviour of the devotees resulting in a free for all.
A devotee was seen with bleeding injuries in his face and hands was found in a video circulated on the social media.
Following the brawl, the devotees resorted to a sit-in protest inside the Gayatri Mandapam.
Police rushed in and removed the devotees.
The sanctum sanctorum was closed for a few minutes, as a result of the incident. The temple was reopened for darshan after the priests conducted “Parihara poojas” as per Agama rules.
The HR and CE department officials lodged a complaint with Srirangam police. However, the devotees were non traceable.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K.Annamalai strongly condemned the assault on devotees.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he said “a government which has no faith in Hindu Dharma has no business to be in Hindu temples.”
The devotees who have had 42 days of vrath with all devotion, wanted to pray to Ranganathaswamy after their return from Sabarimala. The devotees questioned the long wait in the queue and special treatment to a select few who were assaulted near the sanctum sanctorum and which resulted in bloodshed inside the temple premises.
This arrogance of the HR&CE department is one of the many reasons why the Tamil Nadu BJP has been wanting them out of the Temple administration.
He also demanded strictest action against those spoiling the sanctity of the temple.
Meanwhile, BJP and Sangh Parivar outfits staged a protest at Srirangam to condemn the assault on devotees. (UNI)
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