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Sabarimala opening HIGHLIGHTS: Section 144 to be imposed at four places near shrine

With the protest intensifying, Pathanamthitta district administration has imposed Section 144 at Sannidhanam, Pamba, Nilakkal and Ilavunkal. 

Published: 17th October 2018 06:35 AM  |   Last Updated: 17th October 2018 10:08 PM   |  A+A A-

Heavy police force deployment near the Lord Ayyappa Temple on its opening day in Sabarimala. (Photo | PTI)

By Online Desk

The famed Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala opened Wednesday for the five-day-long monthly poojas in a surcharged atmosphere of protest over the Supreme Court verdict permitting entry of women of all age groups.

READ FULL REPORT: Sabarimala Temple opens amid violent protests, no sign of women whose ban was lifted by SC

Amid chanting of 'swamiye saranam Ayyappa' mantras, the 'melshanti' (chief priest), Unnikrishnan Namboothiri and 'tantri' (head priest), Kandaru Rajeevaru opened the portals of santum sanctorum of the shrine at 5.00 pm and lighted the ceremonial lamp.

As per the custom, no poojas would be held this evening and the shrine would be closed at 10.30 pm.

ALSO READ: Sabarimala opening: Protesters force Andhra woman to back down

This is for the first time that the hill temple, located in the evergreen forests of Western Ghats, opened after the apex court lifted the ban on menstrual age women visiting the shrine.

With the protest intensifying, Pathanamthitta district administration has imposed Section 144 at Sannidhanam, Pamba, Nilakkal and Ilavunkal. 

Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) prohibit an assembly of more than four people in an area and restricts people from gathering in the public.

ALSO READ:  Hindu outfits camp at Vallakkadavu to prevent women from entering Sabarimala

More police personnel have been rushed to Pamba and Nilakkal, said DGP Loknath Behera. He said police have also filed cases against those who attacked the journalists.

Kerala Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran has held the BJP and the RSS responsible for the violence. Attack on women and journalists would not be tolerated, he said.

Live Updates
05:05 Oct 17

Sabarimala Temple gates opened to devotees, women blocked.

07:12 Oct 17
07:10 Oct 17
06:22 Oct 17
06:21 Oct 17
05:53 Oct 17

 

Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple head priest Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru gestures at protesting devotees on the opening day of the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala. (Photo | PTI)

05:46 Oct 17

ANI reporter attacked by protesters

ANI reporter Karam Ingerlose was slapped by protesters, his phone was snatched and broken into pieces by them when he was shooting a video in Erumely. The protesters asked him to apologise for shooting the video and let him go only after he apologised.

05:23 Oct 17

The devotees can offer prayers till 10.30 pm today. The portals which were opened at 5 pm today will remain open till 22 October. 

05:17 Oct 17

Congress is not attacking anybody and definitely attack on journalists is not tolerable. Those who are protesting there, are BJP and RSS people. Nowhere Congress people are engaged in this kind of hooliganism or vandalism: Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala to ANI 

04:57 Oct 17

NWMI issues statement

Network of Women in Media, India have denounced attacks on journalists, including several women journalists, at Nilakkal and Sabarimala. The group demands that the Kerala govenment take immediate action against the agitators who let violent assailants loose on journalists.

04:32 Oct 17

WATCH | This is a people's protest, says Sasikala Teacher

04:30 Oct 17

LDF government is fully responsible for any law and order situation in state. It's a very unfortunate situation, we aren't responsible. No BJP worker is involved, we're condemning that attempt: BJP leader M S Kumar to ANI on incidents of violence at Nilakkal base camp 

04:29 Oct 17

The BJP and Congress have extended support to devotees who are protesting against the CPI(M)-led LDF government's decision to implement the verdict and not file a review petition.

04:25 Oct 17
04:08 Oct 17

Police resort to heavy lathicharge at Nilakkal as a group of protesting devotees turn violent and pelt stones at police personnel and other onlookers.

04:04 Oct 17
04:03 Oct 17

National Commission for Women takes cognizance of the attack on women journalists. A meeting is underway at NCW office for further steps to be taken: ANI

03:59 Oct 17
03:57 Oct 17

Forest paths to Sabarimala blocked by Hindu outfits

A few Hindu Aikya Vedi and Ayyappa Bhakta Samajam members on Wednesday camped at the Vallakkadavu and Sathram areas, the two traditional forest paths in Idukki which the devotees use en route to Sabarimala, to prevent women devotees from entering into the temple.  

[CLICK HERE TO READ FULL REPORT]

03:22 Oct 17

RSS and BJP are taking double standards. On one hand, five advocates associated with BJP gave petition in SC over entry of women of all ages in Sabarimala temple, on the other hand, BJP is leading fight against the verdict. Now BJP trying to make it as a law and order issue: VS Sunil, Kerala Minister to ANI. 

02:58 Oct 17

Kerala police detain Rahul Easwar in Pamba. Easwar is the grandson of the former high priest of the Sabarimala Shrine.

02:32 Oct 17
BJP leader, M T Ramesh says, the government and police are trying to make Sabarimala a "war zone"
02:26 Oct 17
02:05 Oct 17

WATCH | Protesters attack mediapersons

01:44 Oct 17

Total 30 people have been arrested in Pamba, 9 yesterday and 21 today, in connection with protests against entry of women in age group 10-50 to Sabarimala Temple. Two of them have been granted bail, reports ANI. 

01:42 Oct 17

Hindu Aikya Vedi to continue with its protest at Nilakkal till Sabarimala temple is closed after the five day monthly Thula pooja, reports TNIE correspondent Ajay Kanth. 

01:40 Oct 17

Andhra woman devotee returns mid-way

01:24 Oct 17
01:09 Oct 17

Ex-TDB chief Prayar Gopalakrishnan detained

Over 20 people including former Travancore Devaswom Board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan taken into custody in Nilakkal and Pamba for protesting against entry of women in age group 10 to 50 to Sabarimala temple. 

01:04 Oct 17

Saritha Balan, a News Minute reporter was surrounded and attacked by a mob of 20 men who forced her to disembark the KSRTC bus she was travelling in with other journalists. According to a TNM report, as she was given police protection, a protester kicked her on her spine and verbally abused her.  

12:49 Oct 17

Nobody can take away the devotees' right to take part in the pilgrimage: Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran

We will not allow protestors to take the law into their hands. Nobody can take away the devotees' right to take part in the pilgrimage. Those using the Ayyappa chant as a cry of protest are insulting Lord Ayyappa and his devotees. As the Devaswom minister, I am not here to allow or block entry of women into the temple.

12:23 Oct 17

 Kerala DGP Loknath Behera has urgently notified all district SPs to file cases and detain the protesters on the spot.

12:08 Oct 17

Govt trying to demolish centuries-old customs, allege tribals

Tribals living in the hills around Sabarimala alleged that the government and the Travancore Devaswom Board were trying to demolish centuries-old customs by allowing entry of women in the 10-50 age group into the famous Sabarimala temple. They also claimed several rights of the tribal communities over the Sabarimala temple and the places associated with the hill shrine were forcibly taken away from them by the authorities of the government and the Travancore Devaswom Board that manages the temple. 

[CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT[

11:55 Oct 17

Police detain people protesting against the entry of women in the age group of 10-50 to Sabarimala at Pamba, reports ANI.  

11:54 Oct 17

 

A TV journalist was attacked by protesters present at Nilakkal. The channel's car was also damaged, their windshield and rear bumper were smashed and their equipment was taken, according to local reports. (Photo | TV grab)
11:51 Oct 17
11:13 Oct 17

Anil C Anilan from Sabariala reports that Rahul Easwar appears to have softened his stance on the Sabarimala protests saying that the devotees will stand peacefully and pray. They will follow the Gandhian way, he said. 

11:10 Oct 17

Andhra woman blocked by protesters

Madhavi, a 45-year-old from Andhra Pradesh, went beyond Pamba and reached the Swamy Ayyappan road. But she was sent back after protesters reportedly blocked her. (Photo | TV Screengrab)

11:06 Oct 17

 

Talking to newspersons, Libi a native of Cherthala in Alappuzha district said she came to visit Lord Ayyappa temple and could not complete the 41-day penance which is needed as part of temple customs and traditions. (Photo | Facebook)

10:54 Oct 17

A young woman identified as Libi from Alappuzha who came for darshan at Sabarimala blocked at Pathanamthitta bus stand and was taken to Pathanamthitta police station, reports Express correspondent Anil S Anilan.

10:52 Oct 17

Protest will be strengthened: BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai

10:44 Oct 17

Protest against Entry of women in age group of 10-50

10:20 Oct 17

There is a very strong police presence in and around Sabarimala: Kerala police chief Loknath Behera

Kerala Police chief Loknath Behera said no one will be stopped from going to Sabarimala as the chief priest of the Lord Ayyappa temple announced that women from the royal and tantri families will take part in the prayers. 

[CLICK HERE TO READ FULL REPORT]

10:17 Oct 17

It's a fight between Hindu Renaissance and Obscurantism: Swamy

Supreme Court has made a decision, but now you are saying that it's our tradition. Triple Talaq is also a tradition in that way, everybody was applauding when it was abolished. The same Hindus have come on the streets now. It's a fight between the Hindu Renaissance and the Obscurantism. Renaissance says all Hindus are equal and caste system should be abolished. Because no Brahman today is only intellectual, they're in cinema, business as well. Where is it written that caste is from birth? Shastras can be amended: Subramanian Swamy to ANI

10:13 Oct 17

Sabarimala temple doors to open today at 5 pm, here's what the schedule looks like

The door of the Lord Ayyappa shrine will open today at 5 pm and will continue the monthly rituals for the next five days in the Malayalam month of Thulam.

The Neyyabhishekom will be held on October 17, 18, and 19. The Ashtabandha Kalasom will be held at the Ayyappa temple and the Malikappuram Devi temple on 20 October. Udayasthamanapuja, Pushpabhishekom, and Padipooja will be held on all the five days before the temple closes on October 21 to be reopened next month.

09:56 Oct 17
09:56 Oct 17

I have seen fight for equality, not for slavery and inequality. On one hand, fight against atrocities by men is going on in the nation & on the other hand, women are fighting against their own freedom & rights: BJP MP Udit Raj to ANI on women protesting their entry in Sabarimala Temple.

09:51 Oct 17

WATCH | What is the Sabarimala verdict all about?

09:26 Oct 17
09:23 Oct 17

 Three women police personnel reportedly stopped by Rahul Easwer, say TV reports. 

08:51 Oct 17

 Devaswom minister to hold review meeting at 11 am ahead of the Sabarimala Temple opening. 

08:47 Oct 17
08:45 Oct 17
The Sabarimala Karma Samiti will intensify the protests in the Sabarimala issue, saying the LDF Government has “unnecessarily” created a volatile atmosphere throughout the state by rushing to implement the Supreme Court order
08:28 Oct 17

Security intensified

08:27 Oct 17

 

Kerala police dismantle a temporary shed made by the agitators at Nilakkal on Wednesday morning. (Photo | B P Deepu/EPS)

07:56 Oct 17

Police remove protestors

A couple of agitators were taken into custody, while others were forcefully evicted and the protest venue was fully dismantled.

07:55 Oct 17

Early morning protests at Nilakkal

A gathering of agitators and police deployed at Nilakkal had a heated debate at around 4.15 AM and this stand off extended for more than an hour. More police were deployed and at around 6.15 they were forced to break the gathering. (Read more)

06:40 Oct 17

Ayyappa Samrakshana Samiti to intensify protests

A group, under the banner of "Ayyappa Samrakshana Samiti" is expected to intensify their protests as the Sabarimala shrine opens on Wednesday for the pilgrimage season.

06:40 Oct 17

Strict action to be taken

All the range IGs have been ordered to take strict action against anyone who disturbs traffic in the region

06:39 Oct 17

Eight arrested for preventing entry of women

Eight people preventing entry of women to Sabarimala were arrested by the police at Nilakkal base camp on Tuesday evening following multiple incidents of protesters stopping vehicles and forcefully sending back of women passengers. (Read)

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Comments(3)

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  • Den
    Typical of the primitive backward Indian mentality and women suppression
    3 years ago reply

  • Ram
    I am from Karnataka. I do not know if it is correct to venture into Kerala and create problems there. I take exception to this person from Andhra creating problems in Kerala. I think this is a deliberate attempt from some vested interests to break traditions and break the Indian society. If I am unwelcome at a temple for any reasons of practice and tradition
    3 years ago reply

  • Ram
    What most oft he rights groups do not understand is that "rights" come with RESPONSIBILITY. It is not a one way affair. It is clear in this case
    3 years ago reply
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