Muslim man's namaz at Tirumala temple sparks outrage, probe underway

Tensions flared at the sacred Tirumala temple complex on Thursday after a Muslim man was seen offering namaz within the premises of the Tirumala Kalyana Mandapam, triggering protests and prompting a swift response from temple authorities and the police.

The incident, which unfolded in a section of the temple where the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) routinely conducts mass weddings, was captured on a mobile phone and widely circulated on social media, IndiaTV reported. The video showed the man wearing a Hazrat cap and performing namaz on a piece of cloth laid on the ground — a sight that startled devotees, especially amid heightened sensitivities following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.

According to TTD officials, the man had arrived at Tirumala in a vehicle carrying a group of Hindu devotees from Tamil Nadu, according to a Deccan Herald report. Identified preliminarily as a driver accompanying the pilgrims, he reportedly inquired with a local about offering prayers and was told he could do so. The same local is believed to have filmed the act and shared it online, further inflaming the situation.

As the video gained traction online, many devotees expressed outrage, citing the sanctity of the Hindu temple town, where non-Hindus are traditionally discouraged from engaging in religious practices. Tirupati Superintendent of Police Harshavardhan Raju visited the site and said efforts were underway to trace the individual, with the help of CCTV footage and the car’s registration number, IndiaTV reported.