Section 144 has been imposed at 4 places - Nilakkal, Pamba, Sannidhanam and Elavunkal from midnight amid violent protests against women's entry into Sabarimala Temple.
Live
Sabarimala Temple Women's Entry Updates: Gates Open For All, Section 144 Imposed at 4 Places From Midnight Amid Violent Protests
Catch live updates on women's entry into Sabarimala temple in Kerala here.
17 Oct, 17:24 (IST)
Portals of the Sabarimala Temple have been opened. The devotees can offer prayers till 10.30 pm today. The portals remain open till 22nd October. However, there can be no women devotees seen since women devotees have been blocked at the Nilakkal base camp and at Pamba by protesters against their entry into the temple.Â
17 Oct, 16:45 (IST)
The gates of the Sabarimala temple have been opened. However, there's not a single woman outside the gates as of now, as per the visuals being seen on television news channels. There are visuals of women devotees being assaulted by protesters while on their way to Sabarimala.
17 Oct, 16:34 (IST)
LDF government is fully responsible for any law and order situation in the state. It's a very unfortunate situation, we aren't responsible. No BJP worker is involved, we're condemning that attempt: MS Kumar, BJP
17 Oct, 16:13 (IST)
Rahul Easwar has been arrested by from Nilakkal base camp and a non-bailable FIR has been registered against him. He is kept at Pamba police station. Easwar says to ANI, "I didn't hit any woman there. I was moving to the other direction. It's a vendetta against me."
17 Oct, 15:49 (IST)
Protesters have also taken to attacking media crew in Nilakkal where clashes between police and protesters have broken out.
17 Oct, 15:37 (IST)
A clash has broken out between protesters and policemen in Nilakkal. According to reports, the police lathicharged the protesters after they hurled stones at personnel.
17 Oct, 15:34 (IST)
I can predict what is going on there, I think it is intentional, it's dirty politics they (protesters) are playing. We can't say if they are actual devotees. Supreme Court's order is Constitutional and the government is bound to implement it: KK Shailaja, Kerala Minister
17 Oct, 15:28 (IST)
National Commission For Women has taken cognizance of the violence against women by protesters in Kerala.
17 Oct, 15:06 (IST)
Protesters block and attack a woman journalist's car in Pathanamthitta. Meanwhile, Rahul Easwar has been detained by police in Pamba.
17 Oct, 14:49 (IST)
According to fresh reports, Rahul Easwar has been detained by the police in Pamba. Reports say that protesters also stopped a tractor carrying policemen.
17 Oct, 14:41 (IST)
At least two women were stopped by protesters from visiting Sabarimala temple in Kerala despite the Supreme Court's ruling allowing entry of women of all age group in the hill shrine. The woman, Madhavi, accompanied by her parents and children began the climb leading to the hilltop temple hours ahead of its opening for the monthly puja rituals.
Ten minutes into their trek, accompanied by a police force, the family had to abandon their plans. As angry protesters went after her, shouting and abusing, Madhavi decided to return. Another woman devotee, Liby, who got down at the Pathanamthitta bus stand and was to board a bus to Nilackal, faced angry devotees who booed her.
17 Oct, 13:39 (IST)
A woman devotee, Madhvi, and her daughter had to suspend their journey to Sabarimala temple as scores of protesters blocked their way. The police was present at the spot, but the woman returned mid-way.
17 Oct, 12:59 (IST)
Kerala police have detained several protesters, including wife of former head priest of Sabarimala temple ahead of opening of gates of Sabarimala temple.
17 Oct, 12:34 (IST)
A couple of journalists have been attacked by those who have been protesting against the Supreme Court's verdict allowing entry of women of all age group into Sabarimala temple.
17 Oct, 12:26 (IST)
In view of the protests against women's entry into Sabarimala temple, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said no one would be allowed to block devotees.
17 Oct, 11:39 (IST)
A female journalist, Libi, was blocked by protesters ahead of opening of gates of Sabarimala temple. Pathanamthitta police have registered a case against protesters.
17 Oct, 11:04 (IST)
A 45-year-old woman was not allowed to enter Sabarimala temple as protesters blocked her way. The woman didn't go further even as the police assured protection.
17 Oct, 10:16 (IST)
Protesters at Ninlakkal clashed with the police after they were prevented from blocking famale devotees from going further toward Sabarimala temple.
17 Oct, 09:38 (IST)
Rahul Easwar, the president of the Ayyappa Dharma Sena, reportedly stopped three women police personnel at Nilakkal ahead of opening of gates of Sabarimala temple.
Nilakkal, October 17: Kerala remained on the edge as Sabarimala temple opens its door for all women today for the first time following the historic Supreme Court verdict. Heavy security deployment was seen in Nilakkal as hundreds of protesters opposing the apex court's verdict are likley to block women's entry into Sabarimala temple. Catch live updates on women's entry into Sabarimala temple in Kerala here.
In Nilakkal, the police on Wednesday morning used force to disperse devotees opposing the entry of girls and women of menstrual age into Sabarimala temple. 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 police initiated action when protesters tried to block the buses from the key entry point to the temple. Why Sabarimala Didnât Allow Women into The Shrine in Kerala; All About The History of The Ayyappan Temple.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday vowed to protect the rights of all devotees visiting Sabarimala temple, accusing the BJP and Congress of trying to destroy the state's secular fabric by politicising the issue. Protesters, who had gathered at Nilakal, about 20 km from the foothills of the temple, have been removed. Pathnamthitta district police SP said that they will not allow any protests at Nilakkal.
A Padmakumar, president of Travancore Devasom Board (TDB), the custodian of Sabarimala temple, said that there are no facilities for women devotees, adding that anybody who comes to pray will be allowed inside. On Tuesday, he met the Pandalam royal family, representatives of the Sabarimala Tantri family and other Hindu organisations to see how best the controversy can be resolved but the deadlock continued.
On September 28, a five-judge bench of the top court headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, allowed women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala temple saying that âno physiological and biological factor can be given legitimacy if it doesnât pass the test of conditionalityâ. A section of devotees have been protesting the ruling.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 17, 2018 08:25 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).