Kerala tense as Sabarimala shrine opens

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : The Kerala police have sought a ban on the assembly of more than four people at the Sabarimala temple as the shrine in the Pathanamthitta district will be opened for five-day monthly pujas on Tuesday. The request has been made to prevent any showdown at the shrine during the pujas as an apex body of Hindu outfits has reiterated its plan to block women of menstruating age from entering the shrine.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala police have sought a ban on the assembly of more than four people at the Sabarimala Temple as the shrine in the Pathanamthitta district will be opened for fiveday monthly pujas on Tuesday, according to government officials familiar with the matter.

The request has been made to prevent any showdown at the shrine during the pujas as an apex body of Hindu outfits has reiterated its plan to block women of menstruating age from entering the shrine.

The Sabarimala Karma Samiti, the apex body, has been opposing the September 28 Supreme Court verdict that allowed women of all ages to worship at the shrine. “We will continue our peaceful protest [against the entry of women of all age groups] till we get justice,” said Samiti leader, KP Sasikala. She added the government continued to provoke devotees. Many women, who could not make it to the shrine during the seasonal pilgrimage that ended on January 20, have announced their plans to trek to the temple. “We are in touch with the police, and, if they help us, we will make it this time,” said Reshma Nishanth, a teacher from North Kerala’s Kannur district who was sent back from the shrine after protests against the entry of women into the shrine last month. Pathanamthitta police chief, T Narayanan, has recommended the imposition of the prohibitory orders under the Code of Criminal Procedure’s Section 144 to the district administration, warning the situation may turn volatile again, according to government officials.