Sabarimala: Doubts over BJP's claims that Ayyappa devotee died in police action

BJP's move to politicise Ayyappa devotee's death may backfire

Crackdown in Nillakal Kerala Police baton-charging protesters opposed to the entry of women at Sabarimala at Nilakkal | Reuters

The BJP called for a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district on Friday following the discovery of the body of an Ayyappa devotee near Sabarimala. Hindu Aikyavedi and Sabarimala Karmasamithi have also extended support to the hartal called by the BJP. 

The BJP alleged that the deceased, Sivadasan, was killed during police action that took place last month as the temple opened for monthly rituals for the first time after the landmark verdict by the Supreme Court allowing women entry into the shrine.

Kerala BJP president P. S. Sreedharan Pillai has even gone to the extent of demanding that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hand over the home portfolio over Sivadasan's death. “The body of Sivadasan who was reported missing since October 17 was found at Plapally forest. He was riding a bicycle with the picture of Lord Ayyappa when the police attacked him and beat him to death,” alleged Pillai. He also said that the BJP had been demanding a judicial probe from the day Sivadasan was reported missing. The policemen involved in the incident should be charged with murder, said Pillai.

The BJP's move to politicise Sivadasan's death reveals the party's desperation to make the temple entry a national issue and win the hearts of Hindus in Kerala.

But the details emerging might backfire against the BJP, which has found a 'martyr' with Sivadasan's death. Sixty-year-old Sivadasan, an ardent Ayyappa devotee, frequented the Sabarimala temple almost every month. According to Sivadasan's relatives, he left for Sabarimala pilgrimage on the morning of October 18. He called his family on October 19 to inform them that he was able to visit the shrine, said Sivadasan's son in his complaint to the police (see the pic below).

Sivadasan son complaint letter | Kerala Police Sivadasan's son's complaint to the police | Onmanorama

However, soon he went incommunicado. When Sivadasan failed to return, the relatives filed a missing person complaint at the police stations in Pamba, Nilakkal and Perunad on October 21 and Pandalam police station on October 24, said the police. At the same time, it is in public records that the police clashed with Sabarimala devotees on October 16 and 17. 

It has emerged that Sivadasan had taken part in the Namajapa Yatra taken out in Pandalam on October 14 against the entry of young women to Sabarimala. His body was located during a search at the forest near Kambakathumvalavu on Thursday. 

Dismissing claims that Sivadasan died in police action, Pathanamthitta police chief T. Narayanan said, “On October 25, a complaint was received at Pandalam police station that Sivadasan was missing. His body was found at Laha, 16 kms away from Nilakkal where the cane-charge took place." The police also added that Sivadasan's two-wheeler was found near the body, indicating that he was not part of the angry mob that clashed with the police. 

He also said that stringent action would be taken against those raising baseless allegations and circulating rumours on social media.

(With inputs from Onmanorama)