PAMBA: In view of the volatile situation at the Sabarimala shrine, the Pathanamthitta district administration has extended curfew for three more days. The curfew will be enforced from Illavungal to Sannidhanam, said officials. Police have booked cases against 200 people for blocking the entry of women, according to media reports.
On Friday morning, an entry point near the Lord Ayyappa temple virtually turned into an area of confrontation after two women of menstruating age attempted entry.
After a few hours of protests, Kavitha, a reporter from Hyderabad along with Ernakulam-based activist Rehana Fatima, who were just 500 metres away from the Sannidhanam (sanctum sanctorum) of the shrine , agreed to go back after talking to the police team led by IG S Sreejith.
The two young women had reached three-fourths of the distance to the shrine, which is in itself a first. They wore traditional black attire meant for the pilgrimage along with helmets.
After the women arrived at the Nadapanthal, the temple priest's aides started an unprecedented protest in front of the shrine's 18 steps after stopping their daily pooja. They ended their stir after 11 am.
Later, around noon, 46-year-old Mary Sweety from Sharjah was forced to return midway after she requested entry into the shrine.
On Thursday, Suhasini Raj, the New Delhi-based woman journalist was stopped midway. The journalist was accompanied by her foreign male colleague. A case has been registered against devotees who allegedly prevented her trekking.
Here are updates from Friday:
Sabarimala is not a tourist spot, only devotees go there. Right now what Kerala police is doing is wrong. Had there been our government, we would've handled the situation better. We would've talked to devotees, there would've been no violence: Opposition leader Chennithala
The two women have reached Pamba after a failed bid to enter the Sabarimala shrine.
46-year-old Mary Sweety from Sharjah is requesting the police to let her enter the shrine today. She is asked to wait till senior officers reach the spot. (TV reports)
Police is not allowed to give their protective shields to anybody else. CPI-M's Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had promised nobody would be forcefully sent inside then why are they taking women in with all these safety gears: BJP's K Surendran
Government bound to protect devotees coming to Sabarimala, but not activists, says Devaswom Minister Kadakkampilly Surendran
IG S Sreejith declines to reply to a question from the media asking if the women were going back of their own will or if they were under force by the police.
A parihara pooja (a ritual performed for cleansing a holy site after violation of any of its customs) is being planned, according to TV reports.
Devaswom Minister Kadakkampilly Surendran meeting CPI-M's state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.
Kerala Police DGP Lokanath Behera has been summoned by the Governor Palanisamy Sathasivam at his residence.
The Panthalam royal family has said that if the temple's customs are broken, the sanctum sanctorum will be shut.
Parikarmikkal (aides of Sabarimala temple's chief priest) start protesting in front of the 18 holy steps at Sannidhanam against entry of women.
Minister EP Jayarajan (Minister for Industries and Sports) contradicts Minister Kadakampally Surendran; says SC verdict will be carried out (TV reports)
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala is accusing the state government of double standards
Police will be in Catch 22 situation if the two women insist on visiting Sannidhanam. IG Sreejith is now talking to the women.
The journalist has come the closest to the temple than any woman of menstrual age so far. However, situation has become tense as devotees attempt to block their path.
100 police personnel escorting both women till the shrine
The woman reporter is in her late 20s while the details of the second woman, who was carrying Irumudikkettu (holy bundle), was not immediately known. (PTI)
A team of police have gathered at the protest venue as women near the Nadapanthal.
TDB president A Padmakumar said the board has always taken a stand that it was ready for any sort of compromise to end the protest and bring normalcy. (Read Here)
A large group of devotees have started protest at Nadapandhal at Sannidhanam to block the entry of the two women, who are on their way to Sabarimala. Police yet to take a call on whether to use force to disperse the devotees who have gathered at Nadapandhal to block the two women.
Blocking devotees from proceeding to the Ayyappa Temple and forcing them to return by creating terror were part of the RSS-Sangh Parivar's move to 'destroy' Sabarimala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan charged in his Facebook post yesterday. READ STORY HERE
A row broke out in Kerala over an audio clip which urged Lord Ayyappa devotees to reach Sabarimala disguised as devotees and create trouble with a Minister targeting the BJP over it and the latter denying any link. READ FULL STORY HERE
Kerala Police now have a big task at hand as they have to verify the antecedents of the women aged between 10 and 50 who are reaching Pamba to trek Sabarimala and also brief them about the volatile law and order situation prevailing at the shrine due to stiff protest by devotees against the entry of women in the particular age category and dissuade them.
With the state witnessing tension owing to Sabarimala standoff, Governor P Sathasivam on Friday summoned Kerala police chief Loknath Behera to his office. During the meeting, the Governor sought information about the law and order situation at Sabarimala and adjoining areas in the wake of the protest against entry of women into the shrine. Behera briefed the Governor about the situation and ensured that the police are equipped to provide protection to genuine pilgrims who want to visit the temple.
However, he made it clear that the sentiments of the devotees need to be considered. The meeting lasted for about two-and-a-half hours. The attempt of a Telugu journalist and a Kochi-based activist on Friday morning to enter the shrine had precipitated tension. Reacting to this, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran made it clear that Sabarimala is not a place for activism and only genuine devotees should be going to the shrine.
The Devaswom Board said it will approach the SC, and inform the apex court about the present situation at the Sabarimala temple, according to TV reports.
Congress chief Mullappally Ramachandran has compared CM Pinarayi Vijayan to Roman Emperor Nero. He said Pinarayi is responsible for creating the mayhem at Sabarimala. The CM is busy touring the Gulf countries along with family when Sabarimala is burning, alleged Mullappally.
Kadakampally Surendran, Kerala Devaswom minister said the government had to intervene at Sabarimala as miscreats had hatched up a plan to create riot there.
Who is activist Rehana Fatima?Here is all you need to know
CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury has defended the Kerala government on Friday, saying that it is doing its duty to maintain law and order in the state. The government has raised no objection to democratic protests said Yecury, addding that blame game will go on anyway.
It is the police's duty to give us protection, says Mary Sweety after being denied entry into the shrine.