Sabarimala, Dec 24 (UNI) Amid protest from devotees, the two young women who began trekking from Pamba to Sannidanam to have darshan of Lord Ayyappa were stopped at Marakkuttam and sent back, on Monday.
The women, identified as Ms Bindu from Koilandy and Ms Kanga Durga from Angadippuram in Malappuram, were dropped their plan to visit the temple following stiff protection from devotees of other States including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
According to various reports, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President A Padmakumar spoke to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and DGP Loknath Behra over telephone on the volatile situation prevailing in the hillock temple.
The TDB President called the Chief Minister and the DGP after reaching a conclusion that a police action against the devotees would lead to a serious law and order problem in the State.
Later, a direction from the Chief Minister’s office was given to the police to arrest the two women or ask them to leave the place. However, the two women who were adamant to visit the temple have been evacuated by the police forcefully.
Police brought them to Pamba police station. As their health condition is getting worse, they may be shifted to the Kottayam Medical College, sources said.
Meanwhile, Mr SJR Kumar, General Convener, Sabarimala Karma Samiit, alleged that the women began trekking with the silent support of police to break the traditions and customs of the world famous temple here.
Though the ongoing protests by the devotees are peaceful, one cannot expect that protests may be peaceful every time, he warned.
Talking to newspersons here, the DGP said the police tried their level best to implement the September-28 Supreme Court verdict allowing the entry for women of all ages into the hillock shrine.
In another development, BJP staged a march to Central Railway Station here to protest against a few women of Maniti group who came here in a train to reach Tamil Nadu after they decided to return back after facing a strong resistance from devotees at Pamba on Sunday.
UNI DS CS 1241