Today will be the last chance for women bellow 50 years of age to make history by walking it though the doors of the Sabarimala temple since the temple opened on Wednesday for the the first time after the top court's ruling. The Ayyappa shrine, which was scheduled to be open for 5 days, will shut tonight at 10 pm. So far, 9 women in the 'banned' age group have attempted the trek to the hilltop temple and have met with angry protesters forcing them to return. In the latest case, a woman yesterday suffered from a panic attack and had to be taken to a hospital near Sabarimala after masses of protesters surrounded and heckled her. Police officials today informed media in the shrine and in the Pamba camp to vacate the area as police had inputs of a targeted attack being planned on the media.
Kerala police had earlier said that they will provide protection to the women devotees to reach the temple, but cannot help beyond that. "Darshan is something which can be done with consent of the priest," said Kerala Inspector General S Sreejith. On Friday, his team formed a protective ring around two women who wished to enter the temple, but they did not succeed.
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Sabarimala temple closes today, media warned of attacks, asked to leave https://t.co/mya998tHUQ#Sabarimala #SabarimalaTemple pic.twitter.com/QHBEWozVsE
- NDTV (@ndtv) October 22, 2018
Supreme Court will decide tomorrow when to hear the 19 review petitions pending in regard to the entry of women of menstruating age in Kerala's #SabarimalaTemple (ANI)
- NDTV (@ndtv) October 22, 2018
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Sabarimala Temple Closes Today. There May Be Targeted Attacks On Media, Say Police SourcesThe Sabarimala temple will close on Monday at 10 pm after the five-day puja. The shrine had opened on October 18, first time after the Supreme Court's landmark verdict, allowing women in menstruating age groups to enter the temple. In the last four days, nine women in the 10-50 age groups have been stopped by protesters from going to the temple. Yesterday a 47-year-old woman suffered panic attack at the entrance of the temple after protesters surrounded and heckled her.
