Sabarimala Turns Fortress: Police Swamp Whole Area To Implement SC Verdict, Crack Down On Protesters

Tension is mounting in Kerala as Sabarimala opens today (17 October) after the controversial Supreme Court ruling permitting women of all age groups to enter the temple sanctum.

Amid mounting protests from devotees, RSS and the BJP, the Kerala government had on Tuesday (16 October) announced that they would facilitate entry of women at any cost. Kerala Police Chief Loknath Behra had also warned that the police would come down heavily on the protesters.

The temple premises and downhill have been taken over by the police, while the prayer protests staged by devotees at Nilakkal were shutdown by the cops and many of them were arrested. Dramatic events continued as a tribal woman tried to commit suicide by putting a noose around her neck, but was later prevented from doing so.

However, thousands of protesters have assembled downhill at Pamba. They said they would never try and obstruct anyone entering the temple.

The priest’s family has also declared a prayer protest, by chanting mantras of Ayyappa. The temple administrator, the Travancore Devaswom Board, is yet convene a discussion on the matter in which young policewomen are scheduled to participate.