Four transgenders who were recently denied permission by the police to go to Sabarimala offered prayers at the Ayyappa temple on Tuesday following the intervention of a three-member monitoring committee appointed by the High Court.
The pilgrims from Ernakulam and Kottayam, Trupthi, Ananya, Renjumol, and Avanthika, dressed as women, reached the hillock by 10.15 a.m. on Tuesday. The police had blocked the group at Erumely on Sunday, citing that their attire might create confusion among devotees.
However, the transgenders were adamant. They approached the monitoring panel and the Additional Director General of Police Anil Kant seeking protection. The committee was of the opinion that the transgenders should be permitted to undertake the pilgrimage. Tantri Kandararu Rajeevararu and the Pandalam Palace too said that the custom at Sabariamala did not restrict entry for transgenders.
‘Long-standing wish’
The group told mediapersons that they had wanted to visit the temple for long. They thanked the monitoring panel for the support extended to them.
Meanwhile, the presence of police personnel wearing boots and wielding lathis near the Neythoni on the temple premises kicked up a controversy on Tuesday. The police were deployed there as part of the security arrangements in view of the visit of transgenders on Tuesday.
The policemen stood near the flyover leading to Malikappuram for nearly half an hour till the devotees started to protest. The personnel were called back and Police Special Officer G. Jayadev admitted it was an inadvertent flaw.
