The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led ‘Save Sabarimala’ campaign appeared to have reached a frenzied pitch on Sunday with Hindu right-wing groups, who are opposed to the entry of women of childbearing age to the ancient hill shrine, staging protest prayer meetings in front of police stations across Kerala.
The State police have sounded an alert and placed its armed reserve battalions on standby for rapid deployment to meet challenges, if any, to public peace.
Erumeli in Kottayam district has emerged as the hotspot of Sabarimala related protests in Kerala. The town is closely associated with Ayyappa lore, and the local mosque is a must-see holy place for pilgrims en route to the ancient forest shrine.
On Sunday morning, scores of women and men under the aegis of the ‘Sabarimala Karma Samathi’ took out a march through the town and staged a sit-in protest prayer meeting a little away from the local police station. In Thiruvananthapuram, BJP workers led by O. Rajagopal, MLA, staged a protest in front of the Museum police station.
Ayyappa Dharma Sena (ADS) activists staged a protest in front of the temple demanding the immediate release of their leader Rahul Easwar. The police had arrested Mr Easwar, who is the television face of the “Save Sabarimala” campaign, on the charge of violating the prohibitory orders at Sannidhanam on October 18 morning. Plainclothes officers hustled him away to Pampa police station on a tractor used for hauling essentials up the rugged switchback trail to the shrine. He is currently in judicial remand at the prisoner’s ward in Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram.
A senior police officer, privy to intelligence reports, said the Sabarimala protest appeared to be aimed at exacerbating communal divisions in society. He said protestors were targeting officers of other faiths. A Hindu right-wing group attempted to stage a sit-in in front of the private residence of Inspector General Manoj Abraham, who is spearheading the security operations at Sabarimala. A large posse of police turned the demonstrators back.
Persons suspected to be ADS activists also vandalised the house of Rehana Fathima, who attempted to trek to Sabarimala on October 19 . The police had to turn her back after her presence precipitated a law and order situation at the shrine. The priests trooped out in strength to block her way to the “holy steps” and the chief priest Kantararu Rajivaru controversially threatened to stop pujas and close the doors of the sanctum.
Meanwhile, the Pathanamthitta police have opened a preliminary enquiry against Ms. Fathima on the charge of having attempted to foment communal trouble. One Radhakrishna Menon had petitioned the District Police Chief that Ms. Fathima had deepened sectarian divisions in society by disparaging Sabarimala traditions and threatening to haul the temple’s chief priest to court.
