In Madurai, on December 4 (NationPress), the president of BJP Tamil Nadu, Nainar Nagenthran, was taken into custody on Thursday after he, alongside senior party figure H. Raja and other members of various Hindu organizations, attempted to ascend the Thirupparankundram hill to ignite the Karthigai Deepam lamp in defiance of police limitations.

This incident marked a significant escalation in the ongoing dispute surrounding the traditional Deepam ceremony's location.

The controversy escalated after the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court instructed that the Deepam lamp be lit on a stone pillar at the hilltop, diverging from the long-established practice of lighting it inside the Uchipillaiyar Temple hall.

While the temple administration initially began preparations to adhere to the court's directive, it unexpectedly halted those arrangements on Wednesday morning.

This cancellation sparked widespread protests from the BJP, RSS, Hindu Makkal Katchi, Akhil Bharath Hanuman Sena, South Indian Forward Bloc, and numerous other Hindu organizations.

As protests intensified, police enacted Section 144 in the Thirupparankundram region and detained several demonstrators, citing potential public order issues.

The case returned to court on Thursday, where Justice G.R. Swaminathan overturned the prohibitory directive issued by the District Collector, determining that the restrictions were unwarranted.

The judge reiterated that the petitioner must be permitted to light the lamp at the hilltop and instructed the Police Commissioner to guarantee complete security. A compliance report must be submitted to the court by 10:30 a.m. on Friday.

Following the court's ruling, Nagenthran, Raja, and members of the Hindu groups attempted to proceed toward the hill to light the lamp.

However, police officers obstructed their path, citing ongoing security concerns. The leaders began protesting at the foothill, claiming that the administration was obstructing a court-sanctioned religious practice.

As tensions escalated, police apprehended Nagenthran, Raja, and several others for allegedly breaching prohibitory orders and creating what officials described as a potential risk to public order.

Authorities stated that the arrests were necessary to avert further escalation in the sensitive temple area.

The Deepam dispute has now transformed into a significant legal, political, and religious flashpoint, with further developments anticipated after the police submit their compliance report to the High Court on Friday.