Nilakkal: Two young women, en route to the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala, were forced to turn back by protesters at Neelimala on Wednesday morning. They have been taken to Pamba.
The women were identified as Reshma Nishanth and Shanila. Though the women said that they would not back off from their plan to offer prayers at the temple, the police forced them to return after protests mounted.
Interestingly, Nishanth and Shanila had participated in a press conference in Kochi in November where they announced their intention to go to Sabarimala if the police provided security. In October, Nishanth had resigned her job as a college lecturer, citing threats to her life over her decision to go to Sabarimala.
On January 2, Kanakadurga, 44, and Bindhu, 42, became the first women to enter the hill shrine, three months after the Supreme Court allowed women of all age groups to enter Sabarimala. Following their entry, the head priest decided to close the sanctum sanctorum of the temple in order to perform a "purification" ceremony.
Violence involving the BJP-RSS and the ruling CPI(M) rocked parts of Kerala during the January 3 hartal with several houses and shops of rival leaders and workers being attacked over the women's entry into the temple.
On January 4, a 46-year-old Sri Lankan devotee, Sasikala, managed to enter the sanctum sanctorum of Sabarimala. A week later, a young dalit activist, claimed to have visited Sabarimala, disguised as an elderly pilgrim. However, the police and government did not confirm her claims.
