The prohibitory orders clamped on Sabarimala, Pampa, Nilackal and Elavumkal, under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, has been extended by four more days to December 12 midnight, according to District Collector P.B. Noohu.
The Collector, in his capacity as District Magistrate, has extended the prohibitory orders by four more days on the basis of reports received in this regards from the District Police Chief and the Additional District Magistrate. The ban period, extended by four days earlier on December 4, was to end on Saturday midnight.
These places had witnessed large-scale protests against the attempts made by a dozen young women to enter the Ayyappa temple against the backdrop of the Supreme Court verdict of September 28 permitting entry for women of all ages to Sabarimala.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Collector had pronounced the prohibitory orders from the beginning of the ongoing Mandalam-Makaravilaku pilgrim season mid-November with a view to averting protests and violence.
The police have suggested clamping of prohibitory orders on these four places for two months, from November 14 to January 14, 2019, in view of the tense situation prevailing at Sabarimala and surrounding areas.
The District Collector’s order prohibits unlawful and illegal assembly of people, staging protests, marches, public meeting, road blockade, etc., from Elavumkal to Sannidhanam.
ADVERTISEMENT
However, the prohibitory orders would not be applicable for Ayyappa devotees undertaking pilgrimage either alone or in groups. There will not be any restrictions on chanting ‘sarana ghoshom’ by the devotees, says the order.
Moderate rush
The Ayyappa temple witnessed moderate rush on Saturday, as a good number of pilgrims utilised the weekend holidays for undertaking their annual pilgrimage. According to police sources, as many as 62,000 have crossed the police checkpost at Pampa to trek the holy hills by 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Devaswom Executive Officer D. Sudheeshkumar told The Hindu that a marked increase in the revenue collection at Sabarimala has been recorded during the past 36 hours.
Meanwhile, the police have removed the barricade that posed hurdles for the pilgrims to reach the Maha-kaanicka at the Lower Tirumuttom following repeated requests from the Travancore Devaswom Board authorities. However, the barricades near the Vavarnada are yet to be removed.