1,400 held for Sabarimala stir
CRACKDOWN Kerala police detain people for indulging in violence and stopping entry of women
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala police on Thursday detained at least 1,407 people who indulged in violence and blocked the entry of women into Sabarimala temple last week.
“We have detained 1,407 people across the state and registered 258 cases in connection with the violence. We are checking their [detainees’] role with the help of video footage,” a senior police officer said on condition of anonymity.
The protests were by devotees and, according to the state government, opposition parties that were ensuring that women between the ages of 10 and 50 do not enter the temple. This was banned for decades, a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, allowed women in this age group to also enter the temple.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president P S Sreedharan Pillai condemned the mass arrest of “believers” and said the action was reminiscent of Emergency days. “It is a move aimed at destroying the second largest seasonal pilgrimage centre in the world and we will approach the court”, he added.
The party is expected to announce a movement on Sat- urday when the party’s national president Amit Shah lands in Kannur to inaugurate the BJP’S district office. He will also visit the house of two RSS activists, father and son, in Pinarayi village, who were allegedly killed by CPI(M) workers.
The hilltop shrine opened for monthly pooja on October 18 . At least 12 women who came to the shrine were prevented from entering it by protesters, following which, police resorted to baton-charge in base camps, Pambha and Nilakkal.
The state government said there was a conspiracy to turn the shrine into a battlefield. “We have handled the situation effectively and averted bloodshed. The Sangh Parivar wants to fan trouble and exploit the situation. But the secular government won’t allow their game plan,” said Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran.
The BJP has announced protest marches throughout the state on Friday to condemn the arrests. The party is also planning to extend the “Save Sabarimala” stir to Karantaka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Most pilgrims who march to the temple hail from these states.
“A government headed by non-believers is out to destroy the sanctity of the temple where more than four crore pilgrims throng during the season. We won’t sit idle. We are planning a massive movement to save the temple,” said Pillai.
APPROACH SC ON ISSUE, HC TELLS PETITIONER
Meanwhile, the Kerala high court on Thursday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the barring of entry of women in the 10-50 age group into the Sabarimala shrine till additional facilities were set up for them, and said the petitioner could approach the Supreme Court.
Rejecting the plea, a bench comprising Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy and A K Jayasankaran Nambiar observed that all constitutional institutions are bound to abide by the directions of the apex court.
The high court said the petitioner P D Joseph could approach the Supreme Court over the matter.