Sabarimala row: Fresh protests break out; around 70 arrested

Around 70 people were detained after a fresh protest broke out at Sabarimala temple late last night as hundreds of devotees gathered at Nadapanthal area and agitated against the restrictions imposed by police.

It is to be noted that due to early incidents of violence at the Sabarimala temple, police have had imposed strict restrictions on devotees at Sannidhanam, including not allowing them to stay back in the night. Therefore, the devotees agitated against the police and demanded to lift the ban on an overnight stay in the temple premises.

In the meantime, a large number of workers from right-wing Hindu outfits protested outside Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s home in Thiruvananthapuram. BJP workers protested in Kochi, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Aranmula, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ranni, Thodupuzha, Kaladi.

Importantly, the protests broke out ahead of the Sabarimala temple body filing a petition in the Supreme Court today seeking more time to implement the court’s September 28 order allowing women of menstruating age to enter the shrine.

On Sunday, BJP workers had blocked several roads and highways in Kerala protesting the arrest of a senior party leader, K Surendran, who was arrested for trying to reach the temple despite the police stopping him.

However, KP Sasikala, a right-wing leader was released on Saturday.

On Friday evening, Sabarimala Temple reopened for the third time after Supreme Court on September 28 allowed women of all age group to offer prayers at the hilltop Lord Ayyappa temple.

After the judgement, Kerala witnessed massive protests by Lord Ayyappa devotees opposing the entry of girls and women of menstrual age into the Sabarimala temple since the government decided to implement the Supreme Court order.

Over 3,000 people were arrested for creating a ruckus over the issue and over 500 people have been chargesheeted by the police for violence. So far, no woman in the age group of 10-50 years has yet been able to visit Sabarimala temple since the top court’s order.

Also Read: Sabarimala row: Rightwing Hindu outfits call one-day strike in Kerala