Tension erupted in Madanapalle in Andhra Pradesh’s Annamayya district after an Ayyappa devotee was attacked by a Muslim youth. Locals allege that the Ayappa devotee Venkatesh was attacked for wearing an Ayappa mala by Ziaul Huq.
The incident took place near the RTC bus stand on 25 December evening, when Venkatesh asked Ziaul Huq to move his two-wheeler as it was blocking the road. Angered by this, the Muslim youth attacked the Hindu youth. Ziaul tore the Ayappa mala Venkatesh was wearing and also tore his shirt. As he continued the assault, locals assembled at the sport and intervened.
Soon the activists of Hindu groups gathered after receiving information about the incident. The people assembled at the place started chanting slogans condemning the attack on the symbol of Lord Venkatesh. The Hindu groups are demanding strict action against the Muslim youth from Bidar for disrespecting Lord Ayappa.
Tension erupted in Madanapalle in Andhra Pradesh's Annamayya district after an Ayyappa devotee was attacked by a Muslim youth. Locals allege that the Venkatesh was attacked by Ziaul Huq for wearing an Ayappa mala. pic.twitter.com/phTCQ0X2wJ
— OpIndia.com (@OpIndia_com) December 26, 2024
Later police reached the spot and tried to calm the situation. The police nabbed Ziaul and made him apologise by touching the feet of the Ayyappa devotee, helping to calm the anger among the Ayappa devotees. Several other Ayappa devotees were there with victim Venkatesh when police brought Ziaul to apologise.
In Madanapalle, a person wearing the Ayyappa mala had their sacred chain forcibly broken by a K2A.
— Tathvam-asi (@ssaratht) December 26, 2024
Protesting this act, Hindus organized a demonstration. In response, the police intervened, brought the offender to the scene, and made him apologize by touching the feet of the… pic.twitter.com/qZ8FCBKwZj
The incident comes weeks after a bus carrying Ayappa devotees was attacked in Rayachoti town in Andhra Pradesh on 7 December. The bus was attacked by a Muslim mob because of Hindu devotional songs played in the vehicle, alleging that the volume of the song was too high and it was audible from outside the bus.