BJP and RSS activists unleashed a wave of protests across the district on Wednesday as part of their Statewide agitation against the entry of two young women to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.
Protesters attacked KSRTC buses at several places. Police showed maximum restraint to prevent an open showdown with the belligerent protesters who blocked roads at several places.
The protesters staged a sit-in at Angadipuram and burned Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s effigy. Women protesters were seen beating the effigy with brooms. The protesters showered abuses on the government.
Police provided security cover to the house of Kanakadurga at Angadipuram. Ms. Kanakadurga had entered Sabarimala temple along with her friend Bindu on Wednesday morning with police security.
The protests by RSS men strengthened by Wednesday evening, triggering tension at several places.
Shops to be opened
Meanwhile, traders under the banner of the Kerala Vyapari Vyavayi Ekopana Samiti decided to open their shops and business establishments on Thursday, rejecting the hartal call by the Sabarimala Karma Samiti.
Traders said here that they were not against any particular group or organisation, but they would not support any group disrupting business and people’s lives.
Ms. Durga’s family alleged a conspiracy by the police and the CPI(M) in taking the two women to the Sabarimala temple. Her brother Bharat Bushan said that the police had lodged her in an unknown destination for about a week without allowing the family to contact her.
