Woman’s age verified, Dalit leader sent back

PAMBA: Sabarimala and its two base camps, Nilakkal and Pamba, were tense for the fourth consecutive day Saturday as devotees opposing the entry of women of all ages to the shrine stopped a woman from Tamil Nadu to verify her age, while a Dalit woman leader was asked by police to defer her plan after heavy rains.

A day after two women -- journalist Kavitha Jakkal and activist Rehana Fathima -- protected by police, were forced back from outside the temple after devotees and temple priests blocked their way, devotees gathered in large numbers at the temple queue complex, Valiya Nadapandhal, on Saturday following rumours that a woman aged less then 50 years was on her way up the hill.

Latha Kumar, a teacher from Trichy, who trekked up with her family was near the temple when some protesting devotees blocked her way. She was allowed to enter after she showed her Aadhaar card to prove her age. “This is my second pilgrimage... I came here last year too,” said Latha.

Pathanamthitta district collector PB Nooh, however, said there was no tension at the the temple complex. “A woman came for darshan. Some news channels followed her...then a crowd gathered...that was the only issue,” Nooh was quoted by PTI.

Later Saturday, Kerala Dalit Mahila Federation leader SP Manju (38), arrived in Pamba. As protesters gathered, additional director general of police Anil Kanth and inspectors-general of police S Sreejith and Manoj Abraham met to decide whether to escort her or not after Friday’s backlash over the two women.

Manju told police that she was an ardent devotee of presiding deity Lord Ayyappa and took 41-day fast for the pilgrimage. Police stopped her from proceeding citing rain. Police reportedly sent back Manju citing 14 cases against her, saying they can’t provide escort to a person who was facing so many cases. But later, Manju told reporters that most of the cases were political and there was no provision to deny worship on the basis of pending cases.