Woman activist’s attempt to enter Sabarimala thwarted

Though she managed to travel till Kanamala near Erumeli, Bindu had to turn back after protesters blocked the bus she was travelling in at Vattappara.

KOTTAYAM: A 43-year-old woman activist on Monday became the latest to have her bid to enter Sabarimala foiled following strong protests from devotees and BJP activists. Bindu of Anil Sadanam, Thottikkal near Karukachal here was forced to abort her plan at the halfway stage.

Though she managed to travel till Kanamala near Erumeli, Bindu had to turn back after protesters blocked the bus she was travelling in at Vattappara. Following this, police brought her to Mundakkayam police station and sent her home by evening.

The events which led to Bindu finally being forced to call off her visit started by around 8.30 am when news of her arrival in Erumeli, en route to Sabarimala, emerged. The BJP activists, who were in Erumeli to stage the ‘Sayana pradakshinam’ protest there, turned against her creating mild tension. Since the police deployment in Erumeli was insufficient, officers took her to Mundakkayam police station by 10 am.
As BJP activists led by mandalam general secretary K B Madhu gathered in front of the Mundakkayam station to block her, police had to resort to mild force to take Bindu in a police jeep to Sabarimala.
Mundakkayam SI K O Santhosh Kumar and civil police officer E A Santhosh suffered mild injuries in the clash with the agitators.

Later, police shifted her to a KSRTC bus near Forest Office at Kanamala and provided escort to the bus. However, BJP activists led by district president N Hari blocked the bus at Vattappara around 1.30 pm. Police then took her back to Mundakkayam police station and sent her back home. The BJP activists laid siege to the Mundakkayam police station on her return presuming she will again be sent to Sabarimala. The police removed the BJP activists and registered cases against six persons for obstructing officers from discharging their duty.

Escalating tension
Though Bindu managed to travel till Kanamala near Erumeli, she had to turn back after protesters blocked the bus she was travelling in at Vattappara
The events which led to Bindu finally being forced to call off her visit started by around 8.30 am when news of her arrival in Erumeli, en route to Sabarimala, emerged. BJP activists, who were in Erumeli,turned against her, creating mild tension.