KOCHI: The court’s observations on the arrest of people involved in incidents of violence at Sabarimala came while considering a petition filed by Suresh Kumar, who runs a tea stall near Nilakkal Siva temple, and Anoj Kumar, chairman of the Sabarimala Achara Samrakshana Samthi.
According to the petitioners, they were ardent devotees of Ayyappa and regular pilgrims to Sabarimala temple. As part of the protest against the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all age groups into the Sabarimala temple, the samithi had organised Namajapa Yagnam. The protest at Nilakkal was coordinated by Anojkumar in a peaceful manner, observing the directives of the police authorities present there. The petitioners said they did not commit any offence and they had not violated the prohibitory orders issued by the Pathanamthitta District Collector under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code. They had left the place after the declaration of the prohibitory orders.
The petitioners alleged the police were proceeding with the indiscriminate arrest of the devotees of Ayyappa to satisfy certain political parties, that “too on absolutely untenable or false allegations”. They also sought an order restraining the police from obstructing or preventing the petitioners and other devotees from conducting Namajapa Yajnam.