Sabarimala showdown: Gates of famous shrine open amid protests, women prevented from entering
Acting tough, the police, deployed in large numbers in Nilackal, some 20 kms away from the Sabarimala hilltop, also removed a makeshift shelter erected by a protesting group Sabarimala Achara Samrakshana Samiti.
Women journalists were heckled, their vehicles smashed and young female Ayyappa devotees turned back as hordes of Hindu right activists besieged the road leading to the Sabarimala temple whose gates open for women of menstrual age Wednesday evening for the first time after the Supreme Court's verdict.
The political slugfest over the Kerala government's decision not to file a review petition against the apex court order also escalated as tempers frayed in areas surrounding the hill shrine that were on edge.
Here's what happened throughout the day:
05:58 pm: Portals of Sabarimala Temple opens. The devotees can offer prayers till 10.30 pm today. The portals will remain open till October 22.
03:39 pm: Agitating protesters stop women journalists on way to Sabarimala. Press vehicles attacked. According to reports, women reporters of two national TV channels on their way to Pamba for news coverage were blocked by a violent crowd which was seen banging their cars.
12:30 pm: The shrine expected to open at 5 pm
11:40 am: Protesters force 40-year-old Andhra woman and her family to abandon their trip to the Lord Ayyappa temple
10:43 am: Women protesting against the entry of women at the Sabarimala temple at Nilackal
10:00 am: Protests being held near Pamba base camp against entry of women in the age group 10-50 to Sabarimala Temple
09:50 am: No one will be stopped from going to Sabarimala temple,says Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra
WATCH: Tension grips Kerala as Sabarimala temple gates open
09:30 am: Pilgrims begin arriving at Nilakkal, the base camp of Sabarimala Temple
Watch: Tension prevails in Nilackal ahead of opening of Lord Ayyappa’s temple today
Acting tough, the police, deployed in large numbers in Nilackal, some 20 kms away from the Sabarimala hilltop, also removed a makeshift shelter erected by a protesting group Sabarimala Achara Samrakshana Samiti.
The protesting group of devotees had been staging a sit-in chanting Ayyappa mantra in the shelter in protest against the Supreme Court order permitting women of all age groups to enter the shrine.
The protesting people, who were less in numbers, ran from the spot when the police initiated action in the early hours Wednesday when they tried to block the buses from the key entry point to the temple.
Hours ahead of opening of the hill shrine for the monthly prayer, the police said they would not let anyone to block the movement of the people.
Taking the full control of Nilackal, Police also warned against those who create hurdles in the ways of pilgrims to the hill shrine.
The police took strong action against the protesters after some of them checked the vehicles heading to Pamba and prevented the women in the age group of 10 and 50 from entering the hill shrine.
A couple from Tamil Nadu, aged 45 and 40, on their way to Pamba, were forced to get down from the KSRTC bus Monday night allegedly by some activists of the Sabarimala Achara Samrakshana Samiti.
Although the couple had said that they would go only up to Pamba and not climb Sabarimala, the activists prevented them.
The police later took them to safety.
Some activists of the Sabarimala Achara Samrakshana Samiti, who had stayed back at Nilackal, also allegedly prevented the media persons from carrying out their professional duty.
Crew of various TV news channels were asked to leave the place. They could return the spot after more policemen were deployed in the area.
Around 500 police personnel, including women, have been deployed in Nilackal to ensure a safe passage to the pilgrims to the Lord Ayyappa temple.
Meanwhile, another group of devotees said they would stage a Gandhian style peaceful protest in Pamba.
The shrine located on the mountain ranges of the ecologically fragile Western Ghats opens later in the evening for the first time after the recent Supreme Court.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said no one would be allowed to block devotees from proceeding to Sabarimala.
Groups of women devotees including senior citizens, clad in traditional sarees, had stopped each and every vehicle at Nilackal Tuesday.
Besides private vehicles, devotees even stopped and inspected Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses and asked young women to get out of them Tuesday.
Very few police personnel were present when the incidents happened.
Protesting women had said no women belonging to the banned age group of 10-50 will be allowed to travel further from Nilackal and offer worship at the shrine.
The temple would be closed on October 22 after the five-day monthly prayer during the Malayalam month of Thulam.
(With PTI inputs)