Massive protests in Kerala over women's entry into Sabarimala

Soon after the reports of the entry of two women below the age of 50 into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, protests erupted all across the state with demonstrators clashing with police at many a place.

Thiruvananthapuram city witnessed a face off between the BJP and the CPI(M) activists, who hurled stones at each other in front of the secretariat prompting police to burst tear gas shells. Four women, who breached the security and entered the secretariat premises, were detained.

On Wednesday, soon after videos of two women—Bindu and Kanakadurga—entering the Sabarimala temple emerged, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had confirmed the development. The temple tantri later shut down the sanctum sanctorum for an hour-long purification ritual.

The Supreme Court had recently struck down a centuries-old tradition of barring women aged between 10 and 50 from entering the forest temple.

Huge protests were reported from various districts with agitators blocking major roads including the arterial MC road and the national highways, and vandalising vehicles. Sabarimala Karma Samithi, which has been spearheading the campaign to protect the customs in the hill shrine, has called for a dawn-to-dusk hartal on Thursday.

The All-Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti, a major merchants' body, said it would not cooperate with Thursday's shutdown. 

Road blockades were reported from various parts of the state. While vehicles were vandalised at Mala and Kodungalloor in Thrissur, BJP-RSS-Sabarimala Karma Samithi workers forced owners to shut shop in Kottarakara. Huge protests were reported in Kasaragod.

Meanwhile, the apex court will hear the review pleas, submitted against its historic verdict, on January 22.

With inputs from Onmanorama