Three woman pilgrims aged below 50 years were confined to the Ernakulam Press Club premises for some time, after being besieged by Ayyappa hymn-chanting protesters on Monday. They were able to leave only after police intervened and escorted them out.
They had come there to hold a press conference to announce that they were willing to wait till police and the larger society, including the faithful, ensured their safe pilgrimage.
Reshma Nishanth and Shanila Satheesh from Kannur and V.S. Dhanya from Kollam had come to the Press Club around 1.35 pm. However, protesters gathered soon and prevented them from leaving the premises.
Police negotiated with the protesters and made necessary arrangements for their safe passage.
Traffic along the Press Club Road was disrupted for some time as police cordoned off the area to keep the chanting protesters at bay.
Reshma narrates her ordeal
Earlier, while addressing the press conference Reshma Nishanth was in tears while sharing her ordeal and how she has been denied her right to movement ever since she made a Facebook post that she has worn the "mala” and started ‘vratham’ to go to Sabarimala. She said that she was even forced to resign her job as a college teacher.
Ms. Nishanth said that she has been victim of cyber bullying since the day of the Facebook post and that she has been trapped inside her home as everytime she stepped out of the home rumours were being spread that she was on her way to Sabarimala. She said that she will continue the ‘vratham’ till she was able to complete the pilgrimage.
Shanila Satheesh said that she is also receiving cyber threats.
