Amid the simmering tension over the entry of women to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, a thick blanket of security was thrown around the temple ahead of its opening on Friday. The temple surroundings including the Nadapanthal, which are usually packed with devotees, witnessed police deployment during the day. The pilgrims, who usually start to queue up by morning, however, were denied entry past Nilackal till 1.30 p.m.
Hundreds of pilgrims, mostly from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, had to brave heavy downpour and a day-long wait before making the ascent by 3 p.m. from Pampa. Earlier in the day, IG Vijay Sakhare, who is in charge of security at Sannidhanam, reviewed security arrangements at Sannidhanam, Sabari Peedhom and Marakoottam and directed the officials to erect barricades for regulating the crowd. A barricade was also set before the queue complex allowing devotees to enter the Nadapanthal in an orderly way.
Meanwhile, there was confusion about police imposing restrictions on the Devaswom Board in allotting rooms in the guest houses and asking shop owners on the premises to shut down the stalls when the temple closes at night. An official statement by the State Police Chief Loknath Behera, however, denied any such moves.
Two arrested
The police late on Friday arrested two persons , wanted in connection with the violent protests at Sabarimala last month. The arrested were identified Prithvipal and Bhargavaram, both natives of Pandalam.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the police prevented Hindu Aikyavedi leader K.P. Sasikala at Marakkoottom en route to Sabarimala.
