Over 12 hours after Sabarimala opened its doors to devotees including women of all age groups for the first time after a historic Supreme Court last month that permitted the entry, no woman from the "banned" age group of 10 to 50 years has made it to the hilltop temple. On day two, several outfits called for a day long shutdown amid ongoing protests. Prohibitory orders were put in place by the police in and around Sabarimala in a bid to control the tense situation. Heavy police security continue to be deployed along the route after they were outnumbered yesterday.
A woman journalist working for a foreign media outlet and her colleague, a foreign national, attempted the trek early this morning and made it halfway with police protection. The two, who claimed to not be devotees, had to however abort the trek after they were met with protesters. Yesterday, two women devotees who attempted the trek up to the shrine were forced to return following intimidation from angry protesters.
Even before the temple doors were open to devotees, visuals emerged of protests turning violent. Protesters heckled woman journalists, combed buses, stopped women from going near the temple and threw stones at police personnel. Protesters also checked buses manhandled women, turning them away from Nilakkal, the starting base camp. Over 50 protesters, including former Travancore Devaswom Board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan, were taken into custody by police who had resorted to lathicharge. Kerala Left-led government had called the attacks politically motivated violence.
Here are the highlights of the Sabarimala temple opening:
"We have never said that the temple will be closed if women of the traditionally barred age group enter there. It is our duty and responsibility to carry out the monthly poojas and other rituals. We will not break the custom," he said.
My account of how protesters turned their anger at us journalists in #Sabarimala. But, I am appalled at those who are asking why were women reporters sent to report. People. REPORTING IS MY JOB. IRRESPECTIVE OF THE SITUATION. @ndtvhttps://t.co/MtbYV4sR3f
- Sneha Koshy (@SnehaMKoshy) October 17, 2018
#SabarimalaTemple | Kerala DGP has ordered cyber cell to register cases against people who are spreading religious hatred through social media posts related to incidents of violence in Nilakkal and Pamba (ANI)
- NDTV (@ndtv) October 18, 2018
Track LIVE updates: https://t.co/AuICrzmaVs pic.twitter.com/DOUuusAqHB
- The state-wide shutdown called by the Sabarimala Karma Samithi on Thursday saw huge response with near total effect with just a few private vehicles on road, news agency IANS reported.
- In parts of Kozhikode, Malappuram and in Thiruvananthapuram, protesters threw stones at Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses following which their operation was suspended.
- Incidentally, state and central government offices, banks and educational institutions were closed not on account of the protests but in view of Mahanavami
- Shops and markets remained shut in most parts with poor attendance at IT parks in both Tiruvananthapuram and in Kochi.
- Railway commuters faced the brunt of the shutdown as taxis and public vehicles stayed off the streets
We'll give protection to everybody going up. It's our job,to give protection to all pilgrims.We'll put more manpower&secure all routes.She(journalist Suhasini Raj reportedly working with New York Times)wasn't forced to come back, she came back:IGP Thiruvananthapuram range #Kerala pic.twitter.com/2ZPhs9IsXj
- ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2018
Sabarimala On Edge A Day After Violence, Women Stopped By ProtestersA day after protests and violence in Kerala against the entry of women of menstruating age at the famous Sabarimala temple, the state government has banned the gathering of more than five people in Sannidhanam, Pamba, Nilakkal, and Elavungal - the base camps from where devotees head to the hill-top shrine.
Sabarimala Protests: Sabarimala Temple Opens After Day Of Protests, Women Stopped: 10 PointsKerala's Sabarimala temple opened its doors to women of all ages on Wednesday evening after much protest, violence and the final imposition of prohibitory orders that bans large gatherings. Through the day, protesters had been trying to enforce the centuries-old bar on the entry of women of reproductive age in the temple, which was scrapped by the Supreme Court last month.
