Kerala temple mourns Muslim man's death: Indian Express report

Stops offering pujas for two days, discontinues festivities, after 23-year-old M V Shabeer was beaten to death

A temple in Kerala stopped offering pujas for two days this week to mourn the death of 23-year-old M V Shabeer, The Indian Express reported on Friday. 

According to the report, Shabeer, a Muslim, was beaten to death on Sunday. Shabeer was a member of the executive committee that organises the annual festival at the Shiva temple at Puthennada near Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram district. 

The report said that the temple’s office-bearers decided not to blow the conch or ring the bell as a mark of respect for Shabeer on Monday and Tuesday. Additionally, the temple, which holds five pujas a day, did not offer them on those days. 

According to the report, the police said that the dispute that led to Shabeer’s death arose last year after four youths were arrested for provoking an elephant by pricking its tail with a needle as it led the procession past another temple. 

Shabeer had been a witness to the incident and had deposed against the four, police added.

Speaking to The Indian Express about Shabeer, N Unni, a member of the executive committee for the temple festival, said, “It was a friendship beyond religion, we never considered Shabeer as a Muslim in the temple committee.”

“Shabeer was the most active member in our committee. This time, I had gone out only for a day to collect provisions from houses for the annadanam (offering of food). But Shabeer was out collecting rice and coconuts for a whole week,” added Unni.

According to the report, the temple has also decided to abandon the “annadanam” and the traditional procession for the 10-day festival starting February 9.

“Shabeer was a religious Muslim who loved our activities and took part in them sincerely. We always considered him as one among us and included him in the festival committee two years ago,” C Gouri Chandra, convenor of the committee, told The Indian Express.

The report adds that according to local residents Shabeer had been struggling to provide for his mother and two younger brothers after his father abandoned the family. He even dropped out of his degree course to work as a construction worker.

Panchayat member M Lalija, who represents the temple area, was quoted as saying that Shabeer did not face any problem at his mosque for being associated with the festival.