The State police have reportedly told the committee of observers appointed by the Kerala High Court that it will be inexpedient to withdraw the police arrangements at the Sannidhanam, Pampa and Nilackal or lift the prohibitory orders now in place at the religiously sensitive high-security zone.
A top officer said any such move would allow Right-wing organisations to seize the initiative in the dispute regarding the entry of women between the age of 10 and 50 to Sabarimala. Such groups have proved their capability to turn the Sannidhanam into a conflict zone at will, and any untoward incident near the sanctum would entail grave law and order repercussions for Kerala.
The committee comprises two retired High Court judges and a ranking IPS officer with powers to “supervise” the police and administrative arrangements in Sabarimala. The police said they had told the committee that they had no plans to block pilgrims or deprive them of space to worship near the sanctum. The measures in place were oriented towards regulating pilgrims to reduce the possibility of stampede and rush-related accidents when the crowded Mandala Puja phase commenced on December 15.
Officers said the latest intelligence forecasts suggested a season of protests till the pilgrimage ended on January 22. The Sabarimala Karma Samathi and the Hindu Aikya Vedi have vowed to expand their agitation. The organisations have dared the government by announcing public lighting of lamps and prayer conventions on New Year’s Day to “defeat and politically counter” the “human wall of women to protect progressive values”. The BJP has also pledged to defeat the wall. The police said the circumstances could bring Sangh Parivar outfits in head-to-head conflict with organisations such as the SNDP and the Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha, which support the wall. Senior police officers said meetings were on to cobble together a plan to prevent clashes between the opposing groups. The proposed “wall of women” covers the entire length of the State from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram, an approximate 640 km.
