Two women return after Sabarimala head priest threatens to shut shrine

Kerala: Two women, a journalist and a woman devotee, activist have decided to return after the chief priest of the shrine said he would be forced to shut the temple and walk out with the keys if the women enter.

The women, who were led by a team of police headed by IG S Sreejith, are now being escorted back and would be under police protection till they are safe back home, the senior police officer said.

According to reports, the home of one of the women in Kochi was vandalised early on Friday morning. Anticipating trouble, the journalist was made to wear riot gear, while



the devotee wore a helmet along with the traditional attire for the pilgrimage.

Today is the third day after the Sabarimala temple opened its doors to the shrine for women of all ages following the Supreme Court September 28 verdict that lifted ban on entry of women between ages 10 to 50 years.

No woman has yet been able to visit the Lord Ayyappa shrine after the apex court lifted the centuries-old ban.

Devotees have blocked attempts from women of menstruating age from taking the 4.7 km walk from Pamba.