Sabarimala Temple Women's Entry: Dalit Activist Makes Failed Bid to Reach Shrine on Last Day of Pilgrimage
No woman could enter Sabarimala temple since it opened its door on October 17 for the first time after the Supreme Court's verdict allowing entry of women of all age group to the hill shrine.
Pamba, October 22: A dalit activist of the 'barred' age group on Monday made a failed attempt to visit Sabarimala temple before its doors close tonight at 10 pm. No woman could enter Sabarimala temple since it opened its door on October 17 for the first time after the Supreme Court's verdict allowing entry of women of all age group to the hill shrine.
Bindu, a Dalit activist, who was proceeding to Pamba at the foothills of Sabarimala temple from where devotees undertake an arduous 5 km trek to the shrine, was blocked by a group of BJP workers and those opposing the entry of girls and women aged between 10 and 50 years into the temple, blocked the road and forced her to alight. Sabarimala Temple Women's Entry: Female Journalists Attacked by Protesters; Watch Videos.
The KSRTC bus Bindu was travelling on was stopped by protesters when it was about to reach Pampa. Agitators forced her to alight. She was then escorted to safety in a police jeep. Hundreds of devotees are camping at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam temple complex to prevent women of menstruating age group from reaching the shrine situated in a dense forest. Rahul Easwar, Arrested For Protest Against Sabarimala Verdict, Granted Bail.
Despite clamping of section 144 CrPC at Sabarimala Sannidhanam, Pamba, Nilackal and Elavumkal, hundreds of Ayyappa devotees have prevented women of the “barred” age group from visiting the shrine. Police have tightened the security at Sannidhanam and other areas following reports that some women could try to visit the temple.
Amid high drama, the devotees, up in arms against the Kerala government’s decision to enforce the Supreme Court order lifting the ban on the entry of women in the 10-50 age group blocked the six — all Telugu-speaking women — from reaching the famed shrine. (With PTI inputs)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 22, 2018 06:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).